Google

This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project

to make the world's books discoverable online.

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover.

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the

publisher to a library and finally to you.

Usage guidelines

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying.
We also ask that you:

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for
personal, non-commercial purposes.

+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help.

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it.

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe.

About Google Book Search

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web

at |http: //books .google .com/I

HANDBOOK

OF

FEN SKATING,

BY

NEVILLE GOODMAN, M.A.,

AND

ALBERT GOODMAN.

IVITH A MAP OF THE FEN DISTRICT, PREPARED BY

MR. SIDNEY TEBBUTT.

I ^

OTHT^

LONDON :

Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington,

Crown-buildings, i88, Fleet-street, E.G.

All rights reserved.'] 1882.

iL^ . c . Icpj .

ERRATA.

age 2

line

12

for

where

read whence

»» 3

))

13

it

indication

11

vindication

„ 8

»>

7

»i

artistic

a

aesthetic

M 12

))

21

it

Southey

it

Southery

„ 47

i6

»»

1850

>}

1848

»f »

»»

i8

>»

)*

»

i*

»» }»

it

19

>f

four

*1

six

)» 107

it

27

)>

few

it

fen

,» 153

>i

II

>>

is

1 1

are

„ 155

«)

2

>»

afford

»>

affords

CONTENTS.

FEN SKATING AS A SPORT, by ... Neville Goodman.

HISTORY OF SKATING,

)>

Ditto.

SKATES AND SKATING

»

Albert . Goodman.

MAP OF FEN DISTRICT ... „ ... Sydney Tebbutt.

GEOGRAPHY and TRAVELLING „ ... Neville Goodman.

ILLUSTRATIONS

„ ... Albert Goodman,

r^s^

J

LI

1

I

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Skating Match at Chatteris, from a picture by " Croft '*
George (Fish) Smart
Walnut-wood Skate, Fig. i
Association Registered Marks
The " Standard " Skate, Fig. 2
Separate parts of the Standard Skate, Fig. 3
View 0/ a Skate fastened on boot, Fig. 4
>» » Fig. 5

Gaiters and Strap guards. Fig. 6
Skate with fixed strap, &c.. Fig. 7
Gimlets and forked key, Fig. 8
Skate with improved fastenings, Fig. 9
Position of the foot when skating, Fig. 10
Series of six views of a skater, Fig. 11

„ „ Fig. 12 ...

Diagram of strokes on the ice. Fig* 13
Side view of skater. Fig. 14
Diagram of positions of the skate, Fig. 15
Position of the foot when skating. Fig. 16
Tail piece
Snow Plough .». ... Mh.

Comic scene .•• ... ...

Tragic scene ... ... ••• .

Diagram of a skating-course, Fig. 17
Skating-chair as used. Fig. 18
„ folded up, Fig. 19
Hockey-sticks, Fig. 20
Diagram of Hockey-field, Fig. 21
Map of the Fen Rivers, &c., by Mr. Sidney Tebbutt
Tail piece
inii piece ... ... ... ..

Page.
Frontispiece

25

74
76

78

79
86

87
89

91

93

94

95
no

III
"3

ri8
119
125
126
128
129

131
136

137
141
144

i5o» 151
154
193

PREFACE.

I HIS ** Handbook " has been prepared by ardent
lovers of a sport which has been long practised
and enjoyed in their immediate neighbourhood.

They believe this is the first time that any treatise on
the subject of " Fen Skating" has been offered to the
public.

The subject is beset with difficulties. Animal loco-
motion, in which the propelling force and the propelled
weight so nearly coincide, offers very complex problems
for solution, and of these skating is not the least difficult.
The records of the performances of noted skaters are
fast fading away. Even the geography of the fen rivers
and water courses from artificial causes is constantly
changing ; and it has been necessary to treat of a passing
phase of that which is in itself transitory.

In their endeavours to overcome these difficulties,
especially in the department of geography, the authors
have been largely indebted to Messrs. D. C, and S. P.
Burlingham of Lynn, the Messrs. Tebbutt, of Bluntis-
ham, S. Egar, Esq., of Wryde House, Thorney, and
many others, who have most cordially assisted them.

It is hoped that appendices B and which embody
most of the suggestions and information furnished by

these gentlemen may be of service to skating tourists.
Appendix B. gives a list of rivers and water courses,
with some particulars concerning their width and
skating qualities. Appendix A contains the rales of
the Game of Hockey, prepared by Messrs. F. Jewson and
A. Tebbutt

Some additional information has been received since
the book has been committed to the press, but it was
thought desirable to publish at once. As, however, the
subject is of growing interest, and some errors cannot
fail to have found their way into the following
pages, the authors will be glad of such corrections and
additions to their knowledge of ^* Fen Skatiufi^ " as
readers will send them.

I

FEN SKATING AS A SPORT.

HE title of this little treatise, though perfectly
intelligible to most residents in the Eastern
Counties of England, needs some explanation in case
it should fall into the hands of those who live in other
parts of the country.

Owing to the severity of the last three winters, and
also, in no small degree, to the efforts of the National
Skating Association and its indefatigable Secretary,
Mr. J. D. Digby, of Cambridge, skating is now very
generally known as an artistic pastime and an athletic
sport ; but many are still quite unacquainted with the
fact that there are two totally distinct styles of skating
which need different implements, differently attached to
the foot, and even surfaces ot ice different in extent and
quality for their several practice. These two styles are
respectively named Fen and Figure Skating. Running
or travelling skating as distinguished from those grace-
ful evolutions on the ice which have no object but their
own performance, has been named " fen skating," from
the locality in which it is most practised, and brought
to its highest perfection.

B

Fen SkaJting as a Sport.

The affix ** Fen " must here be taken not in its more
general sense, but as applied to tke fen, fens, or fen
country, (e. e.) that combined deposit of river sediment,
marsh vegetable (growth. and sea silt, which lies in one
continuous tract around the mouth of all those rivers
which deliver their waters into The Wash, and forms the
largest and most equably fertile plain to be found in the
British Islands. Throughout that vast level almost
every field is divided from it neighbours by an open ditch
or drain, and these form the capillaries which deliver
their water through larger and larger trunks into main
arterial drains, from where they are pumped into the
rivers which are carried by the aid of embankments
from the highland to the Wash in artificially defined
channels. It is not unnatural that a district thus
eminently suited for travelling over the surface of its
waters, when frozen, should give the name to that style
of skating of which we treat The reader must not,
however, suppose that this style of skating is necessarily
local or circumscribed. It might well be practised, and
it is the desire of the authors to promote its practice,
in other localities where sheets or tracts of readily frozen
waterd are to be found.

The National Skating Association, to whose acting
Committee and racing Sub- Committee the writer has
the honour to belong, was first formed, '* to promote
ascertain and reward speed in skating." It has now
enlarged its objects so as to include the promotion and
encouragement of figure skating. The discussion and

Fen Skating as a Sport,

•correspondence occasioned by this enlargement of its
•sphere of action brought into strong relief the different
estimate in which these rival styles were regarded by
different people.

In that correspondence many figure skaters, though
'desirous of joining the Association, could not refrain from
many expressions of intolerance and contempt in regard
to the style which they would hardly admit \s as the sister
.«.rt. These expressions were some of them so racy that
ive regret that we do not feel at liberty to publish them,
and they evidently proceeded from such genuine
'emotions that it seems necessary for us to give some
indication of the art of which we design to write.

Now these somewhat intolerant and contemptuous
•expressions could doubtless be paralleled by similar con-
Terse ones on the part of fen skaters in speaking of figure
skating.

All such expressions, however, are based on ignorance.
Those who indulge in them, either on the one side or the
other, have never observed the best performances in that
style of skating which they do not practise. — Certainly
iihe figurers who thus express themselves have never
carefully observed such men as '* Turkey " or " Fish "
Smart in full career ; one of whose giant strides they
are as incapable of imitating as these Fenmen would be
of performing the wonderful evolutions of the figurers.
Now, although we have often observed and admired the
'best performances of figure skaters, it is no part of our
duty or intention to extol the merits of figure skating

4 Ftn Skating a$ a Sport.

We leave that to others. It is, however both our duty
and intention to commend to our readers the going as
distinguished from the showing style of skating.

The authors of this book are by inheritance, position,
and conviction the natural advocates of this style as
distinguished from all other styles of skating.

Our father was born in the fen country. Our grand-
father was a fen farmer. Their houses were built in
the midst of the Great Level. The black moorland,
enriched with the alluvion of a thousand floods, gave
them employment and a livelihood, and in it they in-
vested their savings. It amply repaid their labour and
their confidence, and it would be base ingratitude in us
not to regard The Fen as a cherished fatherland. And
truly without depreciating the richer scenery of peak
and precipice, rock and rill, fern and forest, wold and
down, we do turn with no common reverence and patrio-
tic fondness towards that wide expanse of level plain
upon whose often submerged surface the Witham, the Wel-
land, the Nene, the Cam and the Ouse once poured their
combined waters and through which these rivers are now
conveyed in artificial channels. We are naturally proud
of the fens and fenmen. Proud of the prowess and
determination with which the fen folk have converted
those vast swamps from being the abode of the pike and
the eel, the widgeon, pochard and hooper into one of the
most productive corn growing areas in the Land. We
are also proud — perhaps equally proud — of that sportive
art which has been practised with consumat e skill by

Fen Skating a$ a Sport,

fenmen from time immemorial — the art of fen skating.
We profess ourselves the devoted admirers of the fen
style of skating, as distinguished from every other style.
We concede at once to the figure skater, for whom, if
he be worthy of the name, we have a sincere admiration,
that the gyrations and evolutions which he (and perhaps
some tew hundred more) is capable of performing are
graceful and skilful if they come off readily, smoothly
and without jerk or check. When, however, as is con-
stantly the case, we hear some highland youth, whom
the minute before we have seen raising the heels of his
clattering acmes high in the air, and after each tremu-
lous suspension, crashing them down before him and
then rolling helplessly either to right or left — on the
outside or inside edge as ho delights to call it — as the
uncontrolled laws of nature and gravitation dictate ; —
when we hear such an one, on the strength of being able
after years of practice to subscribe on the smooth surface
a rickety 3 or a shambling 8, speak of Jen skating as
though it were a rough mechanical awkward ungainly
habit, fit only for boors and practised only by clowns ;
we feel inclined to explode into wrath when it would be
wiser to explode with laughter. Suppressing then both
these emotions of resentment and contempt, if such an
one is still open to conviction, we lay before him the
following considerations.

First, then, he is in error in supposing that fen skating
is a rude or easily acquired art. Nor is it a conventional
or a local one. The art of fen skating is the art of pro-

Fen Skating as a Sport,

gressing with the utmost speed and with the least labour
whithersoever the skater wishes to go on the ice. To-
deliver the stroke at the greatest mechanical advantage
— to ride and roll upon the thin iron with the most
perfect balance, and to manage the relations v^f the centre
of gravity, and the points of support and resistance with
precision, are essential to this art. This requires long
practice, and is seldom acquired if not attempted in early
youth. The shape and make of each individual will
no doubt modify in many particulars the gait of the
skater, but there is, nevertheless, a typical style which
is alone consistent with rapid and easy locomotion, and
that style may be unhesitatingly pronounced to be the
fen style. In proportion as any skater is capable of
combining high speed with the avoidance of all unneces-
sary labours, he approaches the true fen style of skating.
Let no one suppose that the fen man's stooping posture,
his rolling gait, his apparently extravagant sidelong
stroke, or even the position of his head, or the swaying
of his arms are the results ot any perverse conventional
mannerism, perpetuated by imitation. All these are the
inexorable conditions of high and easy speed. If any
one doubt this let him recall the fact that a fenman's gait
on the ice is easily recognised wherever he may be, and
that for speed he has nu rival in the British Islands, or
perhaps in the World. Youth, activity, strength and
endurance are certainly not confined to the fens, yet it
may be predicted with certainty that when men from
any other locality are brought into competition with

Fen Shating as a Sport,

fenmen they will certainly be beaten. This fact can only
be rationally accounted for on the hypothesis that the
fenman has, by long practice, early commenced, acquired
the consummate mastery of an art, which, however simple
it may appear, is not easily mastered. Three years ago
it was reported that some swift skaters from Lancashire
and London were about to come down to the fens and
carry off the palm for speed from the natives. They
were the picked men of their own populous localities.
They were fine active young fellows, and, of course, had
fair play shown them, but their discomfiture and collapse
were utter. With good natured candour one of them
said : •* We are the best men in our parts. But we run*
These fenmen flee.'*^

But when this is admitted the quasi-figure skater is
apt to say: "but at least the fen style is awkward and
inelegant." There is no disputing about matters of taste.
To the denizen of the drawing room the gambols of a
poodle may be infinitely more elegant than the long
raking stride of the greyhound. To a cockney the arched
neck and high stepping gait of a carriage horse may
seem nobler than the bearing of the race hcrse as he lays
himself to the ground with outstretched neck and low
action. Those, however, who are judges of speed and
the adaptation of animals to this one end, take a keen
delight in observing the incomparable power put forth
in the course and the race. So the eye that has been
educated to observe and delight in the motions which
conduce to easy speed in skating will detect among the

8 Fen Skating as a Sport,

thousands which throng the ice of the Serpentine every
fenman whether he be going slowly or fast, because in
each of his strokes there is a poise and grace which
indicates that his strength is so used and so economised
as to give promise of enduring speed. In this ease, as
in so man}'' others, the suitability of means to end is the
first canon of that artistic code which enables us to
appreciate the beautiful, and those who can appreciate
both speed and its requisites will certainly not consider
the fenman's style inelegant as compared with that of
his highland rival. To the uninitiated no doubt the
stooping posture detracts from the grace, but if this be
indispensable to the highest speed against the wind, it is
as absurd to speak of it as awkward, as it would be to
complain of the swimmer's want of elegance because he
is compelled to sprawl like a frog, or of the high jumper
because ho doubles his knees up to his nose instead of
holding himself stiff and erect. What an equestrian
performance on a padded circus horse is to a steeple
chase, — what the figures of a dancing master are to the
feats of Western and Rowell, what a pageant is to a
battle ; that, in the eyes of fenmeii, is figure skating when
compared to fen running.

When a fenman is from any cause, driven from his
native fields or dykes to practise his sport on some con-
fined and crowded suburban pool, he is often met with
this question. ^* Why do'nt you practise figure skating?
" Surely you will soon get tired of racing up and down
" here. Your sport is monotonous. Are you not am-

Fen Skatinff as a Sport, 9

*^ bitioas to accomplish some fresh feat of skill now
** beyond your power ?" Those who make these enquiries
forget what a magnificent arena for his sport the fenman
has. In the midst of a flat expanse containing 1,300
square miles, which is intersected by a complete network
of rivers, drains and ditches, and where also immense
areas are set apart as reservoirs for water in time of
flood, he finds an unlimited scope for his actions, starting
from his very door. A% but one instance of this unlimited
field there lie between Earith and Denver Sluice, a
distance of 21 miles, two artificial cuts, the Hundred
Feet and the Old Bedford river, which latter is closed
at its upper end by gates, and between these, with an
average breadth of half a mile, the Washes which com-
municate with the Old Bedford. When the water is high
and the gates are open, these washes constitute one un-
broken tract of water. Thus, in case of frost, the in-
habitants of Welney, Mepal, Sutton, Earith, Salter's Lode
and the whole of that neighbourhood are provided with
a highway right through the county of Cambridge from
side to side, and far into Norfolk. If the waters are "out"
the whole wash is at his disposal. If they are low then the
Old Bedford, a river equal in length to the 100-foot, and
without current or overhanging protection of any kind,
ofiers an easily consolidated surface to the frost. In any
case the fenman has abundant skating usually a week
before and not unfrequently a week after his highland
neighbours, or the Ouse or Cam in their upland reaches
bave a particle of ice upon them. Hence a fenman is

10 Fen Skating as a Sport,

qnite a stranger to that sense of being restricted which
drives the less favoured highland-man to make the most
of his small patches of ice. To call upon the fenman to
forego his advantages to practise figure skating, he would
regard much as an alpine climber would regard an appeal
for him to forsake his peaks, passes and glaciers, and
staj' at home to perfect himself in a pirouette. Add to
this, that to prevent any chance of monotony the feimian
has almost always open to him that most magnificent of
all games, " hockey " on the ice. When this game is
played by good players and under proper conditions it
has no fellow. It requires an energy, activity and
courage — a combined dexterity of foot, hand and eye,
which no other game demands. We have sometimes
heard this game spoken of contemptuously by figure
skaters. If, however, those who pride themselves on
objectless evolutions enter into the game as it is played at
Earith, their scorn is converted into respect, often
accompanied by despair of ever being able to emulate tha
dash, skill and endurance there exhibited in this most
glorious game.

The contempt felt by figurers for fen skaters is too
often heartily reciprocated. We have seen a figurer
after going through a series ot rapid flourishes before
fenmen to whom the performance appeared quite un-
called-for, egotistical and absurd, and ending as such
performances sometimes do, in a full length fall, greeted
with a chorus of ** Sarves him righV* On one occasion a
fen skat'Cr in utter disgust at such an exhibition while

Fen Skating as a Sport, 11

the figurer was yet in the midst of his gyrations tossed
a copper into the circle made by the bystanders, to inti-
mate that he looked on tlie performance as no better than
that of a mountebank. This feeling is of course unreason-
able and the expression of it discourteous, but it is not
more unreasonable than the contempt expressed by figure
skaters for an art which they have never acquired. Fen-
men are certainly not unreasonable in that, having such
a fine field and vast opportunities before them, they
deliberately leave what some conceive to be a more re-
fined art to others, and are content to shine unsurpassed
and unrivalled in that art which they consider more
practical, more manly and better suited to the habits and
character of Englishmen than any other.

Fen skating may be regarded as an artistic pastime,
an athletic sport, and a practical means of locomotion.
Unfortunately, its practice is limited by circumstances
and beset by some difficulties. Ice, of considerable thick-
ness and in extended sheets, such as nature can alone
furnish, is needed for its exercise, and in this climate
nature is somewhat niggardly in her supply of this
requisite. Enthusiastic skaters, (and who that has
acquired the art is not enthusiastic ?) are inclined to re-
pine at the hard fact that a year which afibrds five or
six weeks of good skating only occurs once or twice in
a decade, and that in average years the number of avail-
able days can be counted on the fingers. Nature how-
ever is not quite so niggardly in this respect as some
might suppose, and our climate in comparison with other

12 Fen Skating as a Sport,

climates is not so unfavourable. It may console the
reader to know that for the past 40 years, (omitting one
in which he was in a hot climate) the writer can
only remember one year in which he had no skating,
and even in thai year he might have had one day at
least if he had been more vigilant. Colder climates than
ours have of course, more ice, but in them skating is
very constantly hindered by the heavy falls and the per-
sistency of the snow. In Canada by constantly flooding
the rinks in a climate where the frost can be relied upon
to do its duty each night, and in various parts of Europe,
as at Christiania and St. Moritz, ( Engadine), were care
is taken to clear the ice, skating can be secured through
many months ; but even in such localities half the pleasure
and all the sense of unbounded freedom is lost. Holland
no doubt is a good skating country, but having visited
Holland for the purpose of skating, and made special
enquiry in relation to skating there, we question if the
inhabitants of the Hague, Amsterdam, Groningen and
Dreuthe, have many more opportunities for enjoying
this pastime than those of Pouthey, Ely, Welney or
Spalding, though it must be admitted that they have a
wider field when an effective frost does set in.

The fact that skating opportunities present themselves
each winter, but that they are so few and casual that
they must be at once seized, makes it desirable that the
public should be in possession of such requisite informa-
tion concerning how to learn to skate, what instruments to
use when ice is to be found, and how best to make use

Fen Skating as a SpoH. 13

of it when found, as can be presented in a concise form.
This need it is our endeavour to supply by the publica-
tion of this volume. One chapter will be devoted to the
History of skating, and in this will be included some
account of those skaters who were from time to time
most famous for speed, and of the races or " matches "
in which they distinguished themselves. In that chapter
we shall endeavour to give some estimate of the speed of
skaters as compared with other athletes, etc. In a
third chapter the art of skating will be treated of, in
which we shall endeavour to give such simple directions
as to the kind of skates to be used, the method of fasten-
ing them to the feet, and the readiest way of learning to
skate as may aid the beginner. To these will be added
some suggestions as to the best means of clearing the ice
from snow, etc., sweeping and using a course, and the
sports that are most suitable to the smooth slippery sur-
face. The Geography of skating including a map of the
fens and such notes as are likely to aid the traveller and
render his excursions safe and pleasant, will occupy the
concluding chapter. The authors are very sensible that
the information they furnish must in many respects be
defective, but they trust they have taken due pains that it
shall not be misleading, and hope that readers may appre-
ciate this, as we believe, first endeavour to collect
and present to them some epitome of facts connected with
so interesting a subject, concerning which there exists
in some quarters the wildest and most erroneous views.
Perhaps in concluding this introductory chapter we may

14 Fen ShcUing as a Sport,

be allowed to commend skating as pre-eminently desir-
able among athletic sports. All athletic and competitive
sports are worth encouraging for the keen pleasure which
they give, which pleasure is perfectly innocent. We
may, however, well claim for them higher uses and re-
sults. They have prevailed most among those races and
in those ages which have exercised the largest and noblest
influence on the rest of the world. This is sufficient to
show that energy so expended is by no means thrown
away. With national pride we may note that such
sports are peculiarly characteristic of the English people.
Their practise is far more general among us than among
any other people. It is evident that their highest uses
are directly proportional to the wideness of their
diflusion. When such sports are confined to experts
and their practise either enforced or wholly mercenary,
such sports exhibit their worst features, as in the case
of the Gladiators of Rome in its decline. When how-
ever all classes of the community heartily join in their
exercise they become civilizing instead of brutalizing,
ennobling and not debasing. There can be no doubt
that such sports while they relieve the monotony of the
poor, act as strong correctives to the habits of sloth and
luxury, and the effeminacy and dissipation towards which
wealth and leisure tempt the rich.

Now there is no sport which while it lasts, is so open
to all as skating. A few shillings will fully equip the
artizan or labourer for the pastime and the greatest
wealth cannot purchase for its owner any advantage over

Fen, Skating as a Sport, 15

liim. Women as well as ' men, young children and
veterans, all enjoy the recreation. Atliletic sports in
general and this sport in particular have a tendency to
encourage temperance,a healthy tone, and maintenance of
the body in that high state of efficiency which makes it a
fit instrument of the mind. To this eflFect we have the
highest and strongest testimony. Klopstock, even in his
old age rejoiced in skating, and wrote lyrics in its praise
declaring that it could call back that warmth of blood
which age and inactivity had chilled. Goethe, the
German poet says : " It was while abandoning myself
^^ to these aimless movements that the most noble aspira-
*^ tions, which had too long lain dormant within me, were
*^ re-awaked ; and I owe to these hours, which seemed lost
*^the most rapid and successful developement of my
*^ poetical projects." The senior wrangler who was
more decidedly pre-eminent over his competitors than
any other, told the author that he owed not a little of
his pre-eminence to the fact that between the three and
the five days of his examination he enjoyed a week's good
skating. Women are especially indebted to this grace«
ful and healthful pastime. Those interested in education
and hygiene have at length discovered that open air
exercise is as essential to girls as to boys, and to women
as to men. The activity of English maidens and the
persistent bloom of our matrons is proverbial, and the con-
nection between them evident. Nevertheless, there are
but few sports in which ladies can join with such freedom
and which are so totally unobjectionable as skating.

16 Feih Shatifuf as a Sport.

Multitudes of both sexes and all ages have confessed that
a few days' skating have so stimulated the functions of
the body, that they have enjoyed thereafter weeks of such
healthful and joyous life as ihey haJ previously never
experienced. It is with unfeigned delight that we find
that of late years that fashion and custom which exercised
such tyrannous control over the fair sex now both permit
and enjoin them to skate.

When the author was young, his sisters were almost the
only ladies of his acquaintance ivho practised the art ;
now there is scarcely a girl in her teens who has not
tasted a pleasure so keen that we quite hope not even
Mrs. Grundy, or Lady Tippings will persuade her to
abandon it for the rest of her active life.

This sport is also peculiarly desirable, because it
occurs when other sports are not to be had, and at a
time when many cannot pursue their ordinary toil.
Thousands of agricultural labourers have the dull days
of December, January, and February brightened to
them, and the restlessness and despondency which takes
hold of men out of work relieved by skating on the fen
rivers, washes, and dykes. Doubtless, Satan would
find something more mischievous and injurious for idle
hands and feet to do if this sport were less popular.
Excellence in this sport depends quite as much on
strength as agility, hence a somewhat thick-set frame
and hard rough work by no means unfits a young fellow
for pre-eminence in fen skating. In winter Vulcan
leaves his club-foot in the smithy, and on the ice at

Fen Skating as a Sport 17

once assumes the speed and grace of wing-footed
Mercury. The fen farm labourer scrambles out of his
day pit to meet on the Cam the slim student of the
University on more than equal terms.

This leads us to notice another conspicuous commen-
dation of skating. It is of all others a social sport.
Those who meet on the ice must meet absolutely on a
level. People of all ranks, professions, creeds, and
parties are brought in contact with one another on the
smooth surface under conditions of pleasurable excite-
ment which make them communicative. Every skater
must recall how those who have lived all through the
year in the same town or community without recog-
nizing one another find the opportunity for a few
friendly words on the ice. It is something in this
selfish, mercenary world, to snatch a few hours where
the primary estimate of men depends on something
other than the possession of wealth or social position.
The ball-room, the cricket-field, and the hunt have been
lauded on the same grounds, yet a moment's refleciion
will convince how much wider, simpler, and purer are
the conditions which favour sociability on the ice. It
may, perhaps, be said that the foregoing remarks apply
to skating rather as a pastime than as an athletic sport.
The question yet remains whether the organization of
races, and the high rewards to successful competitors,
which have occupied so much of the attention, and
taken up so much of the funds of the National Skating
Association, are desirable. Young and ardent spirits,

18 Fen, Skoiing as a Sport,

I ■ I . — » — — ^-^^— —

however, will long for excellence, and such tests and
proofs of excellence as races can alone secure. Rewards
freely offered and fairly won, can scarcely be objected
to by the strictest moralists. Such rewards give
satisfaction both to the donors and recipients, and
have nothing in them akin to betting upon, or backing;,
the men. Open competition in athletic sports has, no
doubt, a tendency to cherish a manly spirit and a love
of fair play ; and these moral qualities play no insigni-
ficant part in sweetening human life and rendering the
relations of men to one another more tolerable. Unfor-
tunately, however, such races have in other sports been
found to stimulate and give occasion to betting, a
practice which has been found to have a most damaging
influence on all sports. Not one of the advantages we
have mentioned in connection with sport but has been
injured by betting. In many cases it has already de-
stroyed fair play and caused the most mean and dis-
honest practices. Unfortunately, too, betting men, by
the strange blindness of the public to the bad effects of
their operations, have been held to be the patrons of
sport instead of its worst enemies. ^^ Sporting men "
and ^^ betting men " have been considered synonymous,
yet, surely, he is not a true lover of sport who has so
little relish for it that he cannot enjoy it unless it
enables him to extract the money from his neighbour's
pocket. Of oourse, betting is inevitable, and the pro-
moters of races cannot be held responsible for it, but'it
is to be regretted that popular sentiment instead of

Fen Skating as a Sport, 19

frowning upon it, absolutely invests the betting man
with spurious importance, and enables him to carry out
his selfish schemes beneath a forehead of brass and
regardless of decency or decorum. A vulgar fellow,
whose best idea of fair play is to be able to take advan-
tage of some raw novice, less acquainted with the
chances of the race than himself, to fleece him of his
money, thinks he has a right to break through the ropes
and shoulder out of the way the guardians of the course
on the strength of having laid a " fi-pun-oote " or a
*' tenner," on the "event" The inevitable eflfect of
high betting will be to corrupt the races, for, unfortu-
nately, men are more easily " got at " than horses are.
Every lover of '* fen skating " should do what he can
to discourage this practice. If it cannot be suppressed
entirely, it may at least be prevented from being pro-
truded shamelessly on the public, thus robbing them of
all confidence in the genuineness of the races. To the
credit of fen men be it §aid, that though we have been
present at hundreds of heats during the last thirty
years, we have never, but on two or three rare occa-
sions, seen any fen man try to get an unfair advan-
tage, either in starting or turning, and we believe,
though there may be some exceptions, as a rule the
racing has been veiy genuine. This last remark will,
doubtless, expose us to the criticism — that we must be
very ** green," It is, however, one of the worst results
•of the practice of betting, that all faith is lost in the
aiprightness of men whom, however high their character

20 Fen Skating as a Sport,

may be, it has become the interest of speculators to
corrupt. We are convinced that the widespread suspi-
cions and conjectures about the frauds and tricks of the
fen runners are derived from other arenas where betting
more widely prevails, and are rather an evidence of ihe
unscrupulous cunning of those w^ho express them, than
of any foul play on the part of the men themselves.

We should deeply deplore, if, in the endeavours of
the National Skating Association to give more promi-
nence and definiteness to the sport, it should at the
same time unconsciously cause it to be made a vehicle
of betting and rowdyism.

The Association has exercised its utmost vigilance to
secure the genuineness of the races and the honesty of
the men, and, we believe that, hitherto, their efforts
have been completely successful.

By Bule 22 concerning the Championship, the Asso-
ciation declares that ^^ no person shall be eligible to
^^ compete for the Championship, or at any meetings
^^ under the National Skating Association Rules, or
" receive any reward from the Association, or from the
^^ promoters of such meetings^ who shall be proved to the
^^ satisfaction of the committee to have bought, or sold,
'^ or vitiated a race by any unfair conduct since the
^^establishment of the Association." They have no
reason to suppose that this Bule has been violated
in any case.

We regret to find that there is an opinion abroad
that it would be better to apply the system of handi-

Fett Skating as a Sport, 21

capping to our races. We are totally opposed to this
practice, because it would, we think, have a tendency to
encourage betting, and to induce the men (if we may
be allowed to use a coursing phrase) to run " cunning."
Handicapping, we believe, directly discourages speed,
and promotes what is erroneously called " sport"
The only two reasons we have heard urged in its favour
are the following : —

First : by the present system too much money goes
to the ^* champion" and too little reward is given to
men who, though of great merit, are not first-rate.
It may be said that this objection has been already met,
by returning the entrance fees of all competitors who
come to the scratch, by giving a reward to all winners
and securing substantial prizes to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th
men in each race. The awards have been distributed
much more widely than is the case, we believe, in any
other contests where considerable numbers compete.
It seems quite fitting that the reward of the champion,
whose harvest cannot be prolonged over very many
years, should be in considerable excess of all others ;
and a scheme which would reduce his chance, and that
of all other good men, to a dead level with those who
have no excellence whatever, is an insane project for
encouraging speed, and yet the more thoroughly handi-
capping is done, the more sure are we to arrive at this
result.

Another reason brought forward in favour of handi-
capping is, that until this is done, we shall never ascer-

22 Fen Skating as a Sporty

tain the greatest speed of the best mep. There is an
opinion abi*oaci that the best skaters hold a considerable
reserve of speed, and that they have sueli a perfect
understanding with one another that they never put it
forth. Now, this notion is, we think, perfectly erro-
neous. There is not any evidence in its favour. The
time records give full proof against it. Of course, we
do not mean that every skater fully extends himself in
all races, but there is no difficulty in arriving at the
shortest time in which men can skate the distance. If
this were so it could be easily ascertained by expedients
which do not involve the objectionable features of
handicapping. It would be easy to give an additional
substantial prize in each race for the shortest time, or
to any skater who should beat the shortest recorded
time.

The National Skatinor Assocation has been careful
not only to discourage fraud, but even to remove tempt-
ation thereto. It has been their endeavour to give such
ample rewards to the best skaters that they may be
satisfied, and thus, by increasing their legitimate re-
wards, to qause them not to hanker after illegitimate
gains. In doing this, however, the Association has
been met by other difficulties. Of course, to reward
so large a number of men and convey them to the place
where they can exhibit their prowess, costs much
money. It is true that the public has responded not
illiberally to an appeal to defray their expenses, but still,
the funds are scarcely adequate. An easy device to

Ftn Skating as a Sport, 29

supply the deficienoy is to have the racing on a ground
where gate-money can be charged, and applying some
portion of this to the expenses so incurred. But the
placing of the races on this commercial basis has
excited the cupidity of some of the proprietors and
occupiers of land. Thus, some lands whose owners and
occupiers once held up water on them with the simple
and laudable desire of gratifying their neighbours, now
refuse to do so unless the N.ti.A. give them some sub*
stantial sum. Others make it so much a matter of
hard bargain that it is difficult to make terms with
them. We trust this cupidity will not prove catching,
and that nobles and squires, owners and occupiers, who
have hitherto admitted the public to their waters, will
still consider that this is a case in which '^ noblesse
oWige " ; for no act of generosity is more productive of
happiness than the unlimited hospitality thus accorded
to the public.

Perhaps the reader may regard the foregoing re-
marks as a digression, for, after all, we arc no further
interested in the National Skating Association than in so
far as it promotes skating, and racing is but one of
the incidents of fen skating, and by no means that
which most engrosses the attention of those most
devoted to the art. Whether that Association succeeds
or fails in its praiseworthy efforts, hoar winter will
again visit our meres and meadows. Again will the
moon, Medusa-like, look down and knit the unstable
waters of the Ouse, Nene, Welland, and Witham, with

24 Fen Skating as a Sport,

• ■ ■ i» imm ■ ■■■■ ■■■■ m *• u m mm ■■■* i ■■—■■■■■ ■■■ ■ ■■»■■ . ,»

all their fen tributaries, into firm highways. Again will
files of hardy fen-men, strong, steady, and graceful in
tiieir motion as the strings of wild fowl which fly above
them, track those smooth highways with flying feet.
Again will Ely Cathedral and Boston Stump^ looming
huge through the silver mist, welcome them on their
way. Again, on Cowbit Wash, or Bury Fen, or
Wroxham Broad, troops of joyous children, merry
damsels, eager youth, aye ! and stately matrons and
sturdy veterans, too, will meet in the midst of mirth
and joy, and if we can, in any way, be instrumental in
helping them to such joy as we have ourselves derived
from skating, we shall be content, without thanks, and
appeal to the Heavens, in the words, though not in the
spirit of the song of the melancholy Jacques :

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky.
That dost not bite so nigh

As benefits forgot :
Though thou, the waters warp,
Thy sting is not so sharp

As friends remembered not.

HISTORY OF SKATING.

HE early history of skating can only be traced by
means of such casual references to it as are
scattered through our literature. From the nature of
the case these references must be infrequent, and they
are even rarer than one would have supposed.

That wonderful Scandinavian literature, however,
whose poetical myths, stirring narratives, and thrilling
romances treated of all the most interesting phases of
human life, at a time when the literature of the rest of
Europe was almost wholly confined to the dog-latin of
the monks, is full of allusions to this art. The high
estimation in which it was held is proved by the fact
that their chiefs and heroes boast of the accomplish-
ment of skating as on a par with more warlike arts,
among a people, and at a time, when war was in
the highest repute. From these allusions Runic anti-
quaries assign to skating, even as it is now practised, a
very high antiquity indeed, stretching backward for
sixteen or seventeen hundred years. These researches
exhibit a curious analogy between the stages of pro-

26 History of Skating.

gress in skating and the advances of civilization, as
shown by the nature of the instruments used. Thus,
as anthropologists tell us of a stone, a bronze, and an
iron age, defined by the materials of which men's
weapons were made, so we are told. of a wooden, a
bone, and an iron age of skating. Of course, our space
will not allow us to examine these references to skating
derived from the frozen north, even if we were suffi-
ciently acquainted with the subject, but these very
interesting allusions must be read with caution. It is
evident that while some refer to real skating, not a few
only apply to travelling with snow shoes, over the frozen
surface of the snow as it lies on the earth, which is
a practice still very prevalent throughout northern
Europe and Iceland, and has been introduced, as a very
necessary and effective means of locomotion, into
Canada. Keeping in mind this distinction, it may be
doubted whether skating ever had a wooden age. It is
probable, however, chat progression by snow shoes was
the more ancient art, and that snow shoes suggested
the idea of skates. The trial once made it would soon
be found that bone was a better material than wood for
gliding over ice, and this material would be as easy to
obtain as wood by people who lived so largely on the
products of the chase, and had always by them a sur-
plus of bones. Concerning the bone age of skating
there can be no doubt. We have abundant evidence of
its existence in our own country and in Scotland. In
the British Museum — and those of York, Edinburgh,

History of Skating, 27

Saflfron Walden, and many other places — there are
bones which are supposed to have served as skates.
These usually are formed from the cannon or shank Ixme
of sheep or deer, and give signs of having been either
ground or worn down on one side. la the Cambridge
Museum there is a bone consisting of the combined
ulna and radius of the red deer similarly worn^ or
ground on one side. This was found in the fen, and if
used as a skate, proves that skating was prevalent there
before the red deer was driven from those parts. It
has, however, been often too hastily assumed that these
worn bones with holes in one end were true skates. It
is abundantly proved that such bones were constantly
used as runners for sledges right up to quite modern
times, and are even still used in the fen. These bones
were attached to sledges constructed so as to allow the
fowler to propel himself over the surface of the ice and
to approach wild ducks swimming in some still open
water without disturbing them. These sledges consisted
of a simple framework on which the man lay prone,
and another upright framework in front, into which a
screen of reeds was stuck, the muzzle of the long-duck
gun protruding between the reeds while its padded end
rested against the gunner's shoulder, who propelled
himself by two short sticks shod with iron spikes and
held in either hand. These combined sledges and stalk-
ing-horses were, no doubt, very effective when Whittle-
sea, Ramsey, and Ugg meres were still undrained,
and they still exist, the writer having seen one this year

28 History of Skating.

on the Counter-wash Drain. In order to distinguish
these runners from the skates one must look for the
means of attachment, and tried by this test a large pro-
portion of the so-called ancient bone skates must yield
their claim to be so styled. That real bone skates did
exist, however, is put beyond a doubt by the often-
quoted sentence taken from Fitzstephen's " Description
of the most noble City of London; Fitzstephen was
a clerk to the Archbishop Thomas-d.- Beckett, and was
witness of his assassination. His work was written in
Latin and published about the year 1180. One of the
earliest translations gives the passage referred to in the
following words : — " When the great fenne or moore
^' (which washeth the walles of the citie on the north
" side) is frozen, many young people play upon the yce ;
*' some stryding as wide as they may ; some doe shde
'* swiftly ; some tye bones to their feete and under their
*' heeles and shoving themselves by a little picked staffe
" doe slide as swiftly as a bird flyeth in the air or an
" arrow out of a crosse-bow." This passage is most
interesting as it shows the very imperfect state of the
art, though it demonstrates its existence. It also shows
that which is equally evident in the present day,
namely, that a slightly accelerated speed given to the
human body so imposes upon the sense and the imagi-
nation as to cause it to be vastly over-estimated.
Exaggerated as the last statement as to speed may
appear when applied to a motion which must have been
vastly inferior to that now attained upon skates, it is

History of Skating, 29

I III. I !■« ■■■

scarcely more so than many statements one hears now-
a-days and which still pass current as true.

It can hardly be supposed that the iron age of skating
ever was directly developed from the bone age, though
the use of bones as skates can be proved to have had a
very wide range and was of long duration. At least,
if this were the case^ the development was not effected
in the British Islands. There can hardly be a doubt
that skating, as now practised, upon iron or steel keels,
was introduced directly from Holland, where it had
existed many years before, and where it had played on
several occasions no unimportant part in History.

Thus, in 1572 (the time of Queen Bess), the Dutch
patriot fleet was frozen in the waters of the Y. Don
Frederick, the son of the terrible Alva, sent a body
of picked men across the ice to capture the vessels,
but the Dutch had cut a trench round the whole
fleet, and when tlie bafiled Spaniards beat a retreat, a
body of Eutch musketeers sallied forth on skates,
darted after them, and utterly routed them, leaving
many hundreds dead on the ice. *' 'Twas a thing never
heard of before to-day," wrote Alva to Philip, ^' to see
a body of arquebusiers thus skirmishing upon a frozen
sea." Alva was so struck with the power of the Dutch
on skates, that he immediately ordered seven thousand
pairs of skates for his own soldiers, and regularly
drilled them to the exercise, and probably found the art
was not to be acquired in a year.

When Haarlem was besieged, so long as the Haarlem

30 History of Skating,

mere was frozen, the Spaniards could not prevent men,
women, and children, skimming over the surface and
bringing provisions and arms to their friends, and it
was not till after the frost broke up that the town could
be starved.

If it should tend to recommend the art of Fen-
skating to all parties and classes in England, it may be
stated that the art seems to have been introduced from
Holland through two different channels, the one aristo-
cratic and the other democratic. The adherents of the
Stuart family, even the members of the Royal family
itself, seem to have profited by their ^* travels " in the
Netherlands so far as to acquire some proficiency in
this, its special sport. James II. was a good skater, as
is shown by the following passage from Pepys's Diary :
^^ Dec. To tho Duke and followed him into the park
" where, though the ice was broken and dangerous, yet
^^ he would slide upon his skates, which I did not like,
" but he slides very well." This graphic picture of James
at his sports, fearlessly striking out on the dangerous
ice, while his fussy adherent quaked on the shore, is
surely more pleasant than any which more serious his-
tory affords of that ill-fated Prince. Evelyn also
records how, a fortnight previous, their majesties
beheld '* the wonderful dexterity of the sliders on the
^^ canal at St James,' performed by divers gentlemen
^' and others with skates, after the manner of Hol-
^^ landers — with what swiftness they pass, how suddenly
'f' they stop in full career upon the ice." Lord

History of Skating, 31

Macaulay says of Monmouth, son of Charles II., that
he had taught the Engh'sh Countr}- Dance to the Dutch
ladies, and had in his turn learned from them to skate
on the canals. The Princess (afterwards our Queen
Mary) had accompanied him ^^ in his expeditions on the
^Mce ; and the figure which she made poised on one
^' leg and clad in petticoats shorter than are generally
" worn by ladies so strictly decorous, had caused some
" wonder and mirth to the foreign ministers."

Monmouth, when he revisited England, had other
matters to engage him than skating, and he was never
permitted to add to those other English sports, in which
he was said to be a proficient, the newly-acquired one ;
but, doubtless the accession of Dutch William and
Queen Mary (Monmouth's cousin, and former compan-
ion), to our throne would give a stimulus to this art. The
Democratic channel through which skating was intro-
duced from Holland to the Fen country was, probably,
far more direct and effective than that which proceeded
through Kings and Courts. The refugees who fied in
such numbers from the fury of Philip and Alva, and
took refuge in our Eastern Counties, brought with them
this pastime as well as more lucrative arts. That the
art wds introduced by Flemish or French refugees is
rendered almost certain by the word ^^ pattens " being
applied to skates throughout the fen district. '^ Patiner '*
and ^' p^tin '' being the only words which are used in
France at this day to express the verb " to skate " and
the noun ^^ skate.'' It is probable also, that, that

32 History of Skating,

irrepressible Dutchman Vermuyden introduced into the
very heart of the fen, Dutch navvies to execute his
great drainage works, and some of them settled perma-
mently in a country not unlike their own, and equally
suited to the mercurial art of skating. By whatever
channel the Dutch art was introduced it became very
popular in its new home. The art, however, became
sotnewhat changed to suit the temperament and habits
of its new votaries. For though the art may be well
called a mercurial art, and skates may be well compared
to the winged sandals of the courier-god, the Dutch
people have not been esteemed mercurial. While the
Dutchman delights to sail along with a long pipe in his
mouth, and the Dutch woman is constantly to be seen,
as the Dutch painters delight to depict her, flying her
knitting needles as she wends her winged way to mar-
ket ; the more ardent English devote all their energies
to the attainment of the highest speed, and their sport
became competitive. Baces became matters of the
greatest interest, and if these were taking place, no
matter how remote the place of meeting from populous
towns, or how completely involved in the sparsely-
peopled fen country, thousands of spectators assembled
and witnessed the sport. It has been conjectured that
the difference in the styles of " running " between the
Dutch and the fen folk is to be accounted for by the
fact that the latter, being compelled to reach the main
drains by means of the capillary ditches of which we
have spoken, were obliged to run in a straighter course

Huiory of Skating. 33

and could not roll so far on the outer edge and deliver
the stroke so fireely as the Dutch could in their wider
canals. We think, however, this explanation unsatis-
torj, and the difference is really, only a reflection of the
more eager and ardent temperament of the English,
who are willing to curtail the period of rest and ease in
the stroke if thereby they can gain any more speed at
the expense of much muscular exertion.

The trysting-place, which of all others was the most
attractive and the most suitable for these races was Whit-
tlesea Mere. It is with sincere regret that we have to
transfer the short account of this most delightful skating
area from our chapter on Geography to this place ; for
Whittlesea Mere and all its associations have, alas!
become matters of History. This sheet of water,
was considered one of the three wonders of Hunting-
donshire, as the following local rhyme indicates :

" Yaxley stone mill,
Glatton's round hill,
And Whittlesea Mere,
Are the three wonders of Huntingdonshire."

Though of no great size as compared with lakes of the
mountain districts of Cumberland and Wales, it was the
largest lake to be found in the South Eastern half of
this country. Its depth scarcely exceeded five feet any
where, and its shores were so flat that its extent greatly
varied with the wetness or dryness of the seasons. It
was approximately two and a half miles from east to
west, and one mile and three-quarters at its greatest

D

34 History of Skating,

extent from north to south. Its sammer aspect, when
the great copper butterfly hovered over its fringing flags
and flowering rushes, and the swallow-tail skimmed
over its wide margin of sedge, is beyoad our province ;
but the writer may recall and record the keen delight
with which he visited its ice-bound surface while yet a
boy. How keen was the pleasure of skirting its in-
dented shores beside the tall reeds whose golden jointed
stems bore their bronze tassels high above his head.
How well he remembers startling the brown crested
bittern from among the bulrushes and clubr.ushes,
and chasing the huge pike which darted and doubled
beneath the transparent black ice in terror of the
monster who persistently appeared in their zenith, till
at length in despair they plunged into the mud, stirring
it up to cover their retreat. The writer also recalls the.
fact that a race was going on in the centre of the mere
while he was exploring its outskirts, but he totally for-
gets who were the winners and all the details, except
that afler the sterner sex had struggled for the mastery
some country lasses competed with one another and ran
both resolutely and well

The only notice of this glorious arena as a skating
ground in ^'The Fenland; Past and Present," which
is a standard work, published in 1878, and full of
interesting and reliable information on other matters, is
contained in the following sentence. ^^Here some of
^^ the fastest ^ running ' in the world might be seen, and
^^ old men still delight to tell how Turkey Smart skated

. History of Skating. 35

^*or *ran' his mile in two minutes and two seconds;
** and how Gittan (fine old British name) of Nordelph,
^^ ran a mile in two minutes and twenty-nine seconds."
!Now, this statement is erroneous in every particular.
The recorded Exploits are inverted. Qiitam^ which is
the right spelling of the fine old British name,
flourished about 1820 and a few subsequent years, while
Turkey Smart came to the fore in 1854. Turkey
Smart was one of the best and most powerful skaters
who ever set iron to ice, but he never performed the fabu-
lous feat assigned to him. It is beyond the unaided power
t>f mortal man to accomplish such a feat, and if ^' old
men " ever were so far in their dotage to make the
statement, they would have chosen some more remote
and mythical hero to assign it to, for Turkey Smart,
aged 51, still runs in our races, and runs in good style
too, though, alas ! not with his old power. He is still
able, however, to surpass the best men of Bir-
mingham, as he proved at Edgbaston Pool this very
year. We very much doubt whether Turkey Smart ever
set foot on Whittlesea mere — he certainly never dis-
tinguished himself there, for, before he beat the Southery
men, and sprang at once from obscurity into pre-emi-
nence, Whittlesea mere had ceased to be, and its dry
ted was good " winter " land, bearing wheat.

The shallowness of the mere, its fiat sides, from whence
no mountain gusts descended, the dense high screen of
rushes which defended it from lateral winds, and its
-complete exposure upways to the clear skies of winter,

S6 History of Shaiing^

caused its smooth bosom to be soon visited by the frost,
in whose close embrace it lay, while other lakes were
still unwoo'd and ** fancy free." Bnt, alas I these very
features excited the cupidity of the " land grabber.'*
*^ Restless ownership " perceiving that its greatest depths
were still above low water-mark, in 1851 carried a
drain into it and completed their work by erecting an
** Appold " pump, which keeps it dry. *^ what a
fall was there, my countrymen 1 " It is useless to
repine. The strings of mallard flying eastward at even
with outstretched necks, will scan the level moor in
vain for the silvery gleam of the mere into which their
ancestors used to dash at night and then sleep in silence.
They must ply their weary wings for another hour till
they reach the Norfolk Broads. The pintail and the
long tail, the golden eye, and the goosander, and all the
rarer visitants which once found here a transient resting
place must fall to other guns than those of the hardy
fenman. Worst of all, these Fen-men themselves,
must seek other less suitable and less reliable arenaa
whereon to prove their prowess in skating.

In giving, as we shall now endeavour to do, some
consecutive accounts of the men who have had the
greatest reputation as fast skaters, and the races in
which they distinguished themselves, as well as some
estimate of their speed, we must crave the reader's
indulgence.

From the instance already given of looseness and
inaccuracy of statement where we might have expected

HiUory of Skating. 37

greatest exactness, it will be seen how difficult it is to
get reliable information. Tliis is due, in a great mea-
sure, to the instability of our climate in which the
appearance and continuance of the frost cannot be relied
upon for a single day ; hence, matches had to be made,
competitors brought together, the course marked out
in a hurry, and that which is done hastily can seldom be
done accurately. These races, too, occurred in obscure
country places where no good reporter could be found
to take notes. The courses, too, even when well
marked out, could hardly be maintained from the
pressure of the excited crowds, and they had often to
be many times shifted to avoid the encroaching water,
or the breaking-up of the ice. In giving the statistics
we shall call attention, if possible, to every doubtful
point, so that we may not mislead ; and it is not our
intention to give any but the most remarkable events,
or those which have somethin<^ characteristic about
them. Our fragmentary chronicle only commences,
and hardly commences, with the present century, and
all is within the memory of ^^ the oldest inhabitant,*' so
that our statements, some ot which can hardly fail to be
inaccurate, we may hope to have corrected or verified.
It is a curious feature in the records of fen skaters how
firequently the same family names recur. From this
and other circumstances, we gather that excellence in
skating is an hereditary faculty. To start with, John ,
WilUam, and Matthew Drake, three brothers, spoken
of in 1823, <' as still living in the town of Chatteris,''

38 History of Skating,

and piesumably old men^ were stated to be unquestion-
ably the best men of their time. It is questionable
whether Francis Drake, an officer of the Bedford Level
Corporation, of whom Mr. Heathcote records that he,
in 1799, put on his skates at Whittlesea Mere and
crossed both the Middle and South Levels to Mildenhall
without taking them off, was a relative of these men.

On the 14th June, 1814, at Ramsey, Youngs of
Mepal (not Young of Nordelph, who flourished ten to
fifteen years later) beat the *' famous" Thompson of
Winiblington with apparent ease. This Youngs was
then considered the *' champion," and beat Hicklin of
Growland, winning a silver cup at Chatteris, and also
Dyalls for a prize of £20 on Whittlesea mere. The year
1822-3 was a famous year in skating annals. Whittlesea
mere was strong enough to bear carts and donkeys, and
booths were erected upon it.

In the early part of tliis season a very interesting
and characteristic race was run at Crowland between
four of the best of the fen skaters, two of them were
from Crowland and two from Nordelph, and old men
still speak of this race as the grand contest between the
North and the >South Fen men. Both districts were
well represented, and the contest was a close one;
Chas. Staples, of Crowland, beating Young by three
yards only, while John Staples, the other representative
of Crowland, was beaten by Gittam. In the final heat
Gittam beat C. Staples thus deciding the contest in
favour of the South Ouse district..

Hutory of Skating* 39

The most noteworthy rac5e of the year 1823 took place
at Carter's Bridge, on the Forty-foot Drain, near Chat-
teris, on the 14th of January.

Perhaps, as this . may be taken as a typical race, it
may be as well to notice here the customary arrange-
ments under which these contests were usually con-
ducted. The committee which was appointed, and was in
charge of the prize fund, used to select the sixteen
men who, in their judgment, were the best skaters.
There was no practical difficulty about this, as the best
men would have acquired a reputation, and^ there was
always a biai in favour of young rising men or strangers
if it was thought that they had any chance of winning.
These sixteen competitors were paired, either by lot or
by the arrangements of the committee (usually in the
former method), and ran against one another in eight
races, which made the first series of heats and resulted
in producing eight winners ; these eight were again
paired as before for the second series of heats. Tlie
four winners which, by a process ot natural selection,
still survived, were paired for the third series of heats,
and then the final heat culminated in the survival of
the fittest

The races were run over two miles, this being con-
sidered the normal distance at which both speed and
endurance could be tested. The course was half a mile
long, with a barrel or definite fixed bourne at each end,
and a series of sods of earth or a line of swept snow,
stretching from bourne to bourne. The mew started

40 History of Skating.

one on each side of the starting bourne^ and each man
kept to his own side of the said line, turaed round the
bourne at the far end and returned by the other side by
which his opponent had started, and going twice
round such a double course the two miles was completed
and the starting point was also the winning post. Of
course, by this procedure, the competitors must meet and
pass one another three times. It was usual to give
each winner some reward ; the rewards of the second
and third series of heats being larger than those of the
first, and the surplus going to the final victor. This
arrangement is open to many objections, but it has so
many practical advantages that it has held its ground
despite them all, and can scarcely be improved upon.
The most obvious objection is, that by this process it
is only the best man whose proficiency can be ascer-
tained. His competitor in the final heat may possibly
be very inferior to many who have been previously run
out. Indeed, as the two men in the final race must
have run three times before, this contest may be in-
fluenced by the severity of the previous races, and this
may even cause the palm of victory to be snatched by
the man who is really not the best skater. The pairing,
too, sometimes creates complications which affect the
race. On the other hand, this arrangement secures
almost perfect fairness between the competitors of eadi
race, which could hardly be effected unless each
traversed absolutely the same ice. The spectators along
the course also have the gratificstion of seeing each man

Hutory of Skaiing. 41

^ — ^»^^ I I ■— ^— ^1 1 .■.■..■-■.■.II ^— ^.„,^,.„.^^.,^

pass them fonr times, and for the record of time and
decision of the judge there is very definite advantagd
in having the starting point identical with the -winning
post. We shall have to recar to some of these points,
but it was necessary that we should explain the method
of procedure here, in order that the reader might under-
stand the details and incidents which may arise oat of
it in the events we have to record. The following
formula expresses the results of the race which came
off on Tuesday, 33rd January, 1823.

FIRST HEATS.

Varlow, of Benwiok beat Drake, of Chatteris.

Green, of March „ Burgess, of Whittlesea.

Terry, of Wisbech „ Hare, of Littleport

Bradford, of Farcett „ Middleditch, of Reach.

Young, of Nordelph „ Cave, of Sutton.

Gittam, of „ „ Angood, of Chatteris.

May, of Upwell „ Berry, of Ramsey.

Richardson, Whittlesea „ Minnot of Manea.

SEOOKD HEATS.

Green beat Varlow. Bradford beat Terry.
Young „ Gittam, May „ Richardson,

THIRD HEATS.

Bradford beat Green. Young beat May.

FINAL HEAT.

Young .•• beat ••• Bradford.

43 History of Skating.

The graphic representation of this race, which was
taken from a sketch by a local irtist, iand published in
the ^^ Annals ot Sporting," forms the frontispiece of
this work. It represenjks, not the final heat^ in which
Young (the rising sun) beat Bradford, of Farcett, but-
one of tho second heats, in which Young beat Qittam.*

* The frontispiece is a reduced copy of a coloured picture given in
the Sporting Annals of 1823. The original picture was painted by
Mr. Croft, of St. Ives, and it is referred to as follows : — ^The match
here re'presented took place on the Forty-feet River, which leads to
Ramsey, and no place could be better calculated for such an amusement,
as the banks on both sides rise in the form of an amphitheatre, about
fourteen feet above the level of the river, and afford very excellent
accommodation to numerous spectators; who lined both sides of the
banks as far as the eye could reach. The bridge, which is of brick,
lies, as is represented, on the road between Chatteris and Doddington.
Fig. I and 2 represent Young and Gittam, at the winning of their race.
Fig. 3 is Mr. J. Smith, with the book and flag (which was yellow), in
the act of calling for the next two runners (Richardson and May),
p'ig. 4 is Mr. Ward, who held a pink flag at the winning end. Fig. 5
represents a lighter, which lay at front of the bridge, in which the
Chatteris Band was placed, but which moved down the left bank, as
the course was lowered down the river by the breaking of the
ice. Fig. 6, the Wisbech Day Coach, having stopped on the
read parallel with the bridge, which leads to Wisbech. Fig. 7
is an Old Man selling gin, which he calls the ** water of life :" the
bridge and both sides of the river were crowded with company.
Gittam is represented in flannel drawers, as he ran, with a silk hand-
kerchief on his head ; and Young, the' winner, wore a coloured India
silk handkerchief. Men were employed to run up and down with ropes
as seen at Fig. 8, to keep the course clear, which was hardly possible,
fipom the crowd of people assembled.

History of Skating, 43

This, no doubt, is a tribute to the reputation of the
Jatter, who, till then had been considered champion.
Gittam and Young, almost always mentioned in the
same breath, are still the heroes of the veteran lovers of
the sport. Those who have seen them skate can scarcely
be brought to admit that any subsequent runner has
attained to their style and speed. Judging from the
testimony of their contemporaries, who are now fast
passing away, we may conclude that Gittam was the
older man, and that the claims of his rival were only
folly established on this very occasion. As we have stated,
in the previous year Gittam defeated Chas. Staples,
who, in a preceding heat had outrun Young, and it is
probable that he had had a victorious career during
several previous years. He was a larger and stronger
man than Young, though not above average height
His distance was considered to be one mile, though he
constantly ran and won in two->mile races. He was
once beaten over a half-mile course by Ayres, who
afterwards kept the " Lamb and Flag " at Welney. The
writer has more than once had to take refuge at that
little Inn after a ducking in the Old Bedford, and was
often favoured with an account of this race by the win-
ner. The race was run for a wager, the course was
straight and down wind, and the ice was hard, black,
and in magnificent condition. The competitors had a
flying start, and Ayres got about a half-yard at the
oommencement and held it throughout. The contest,
however, was so severe that both men fell in at the

44 HiUory of Skating,

winning-post from the combined effect of eagerness
and exhaustion. Ayres was at that time a slim youth,
and it is probable that the conditions were highly
favourable to him, as we never read of any per*
formance of bis over the ordinary two-mile course*

Toung was, at the time of the Chatteris race, about
twenty-four years old ; he was short and small. He is
described a^ ^^ one of the completest and most graceful
skaters in the kingdom." He needed good ice for his
best performances. His strokes were very long,
covering about ten yards, and be appeared to go with
great ease. His distance was two miles, and at that
distance he held the preeminence for at least six years,
for wo find him winning a great race at Wisbech in
1827. In ]830 he was beaten by John Charles of
Stretham by about twenty-seven yards, though, even
then, it was regarded as an accident. He was then
thirty -two years old, and had probably began to decline
in speed* His performance on the occasion represented in
the frontispiece was most creditable, and his triumph
much impressed the spectators, for, it will be observed,
that he beat in succession (1.) Cave, who, in the same
year had been a winner both against Oittam and May ;<^
(2.) Gittam; — (3.) May, who had beaten him on the
previous day ; — (4.) Bradford, who had run all but a
dead heat against May in the final race of Monday. In
connection with this race in 1823, several circumstances
are worthy of note, as showing that history repeats
itself in the chronicles of performances on the ice as on

HUtory of Skating. 40

all other arenas. Thus^ in aooounting for- the fact that
Toung 80 easily turned the tables on May, who had
beaten him on the previous dayi the failure of the
former on the first occasion vras attributed to ^^ lush/'
and he was warned in a friendly manner by the chroni-
cler to abstain in future from such excess. Such a
warning is not altogether out of place in the present day,
and it will occur to some that subsequent failures in
modern times have been attributed to the same cause.
Again, the race between Young and May was considered
to be the fastest^ and to have been performed in 5 min.
2 sec. As the course was said to be a measured two miles
this record is astounding to those who have taken the
times of races in recent years. The explanation, however,
is easily found, and a similar one will account for many
records of extraordinarily quick times on other occasions,
one of the ol jects in the picture being thus referred to :
^^ 5. A lighter (barge) in which the Chatteris Band was
placed, but which moved down the left bank as the
course was lowered down the river by the breaking of
the ice." No doubt, as the ice was broken up by the
crowd which assembled at the winning post, that post
was moved and the course shortened, so that the times of
the latter races cannot be compared with those of the
first, and are wholly inaccurate as records of pace as the
distance cannot be ascertained. Another incident pour*
trayed is the ^^ Wisbech Day Coach " stopping to allow
the passengers to see the race. It is rather curious to
reflect that such a coach was the fastest method of

46 History of Skating.

transit which travellers then possessed , and in that very
year George Stephenson was moving for an Act
of Parliament to enable him to work locomotive engines
over the Stockton and Darlington line. The question
of speed was» doubtless, at that moment, the
supreme object of interest to the passengers by the
Wisbech Coach, but no one of them could have
conjectured that there was then a scheme on foot which
would produce a speed greater than any horse or man
on ^^ pattens " could emulate.

Having thus fully described a typical fen skating race
it is not our intention to give the details of any others.
Such races occurred, and still occur, in the fen, on
almost every available day throughout every frost. A
fair selection of them will be found in the official Hand-
book of the National Skating Association. We only
give a short notice of the best men, and some noteworthy
particulars concerning them. On the same ice, a week
later than the race already described, six Chatteris gen-
tlemen contended with six from March. Green, of
March, was the only March man who won in the first
heats, and, after beating another Chatteris man, he was
easily beaten by Drake. This Drake was, probably,
William, the son of old William Drake, of Ghatteris,
one of those brothers already referred to. It would be
interesting to know whether Green was a relation of the
Green, of March, who, a generation later, was known
as a remarkably graceful and fast skater. John Drake
had also a son John, who, for two years, was considered

History of Skatinffs 4/

the best man of his time, and this son is still living
in Chatteris, being at least eighty years of age.
After Gittam and Young, the cousins Drake and
the brothers Staples, ^g&i'y ^nd Farrer, of Nordelph,
had begun to decline, John Berry, a waterman, of
Bamsey, won several first-class races, and then Need-
ham distinguished himself as one of the best men
previous to 1840. Needham was small and light, and
had a short, quick stroke. He could beat any man over
bad ice. He challenged the world in 1841. He was,
however, beaten at Chatteris by Few, of Sutton,
but Needham's friends considered he was not well
at the time. He was afterwards beaten by T. Cockle,
of Hilrow, and though he ran for many years after«>
wards, had to succumb to younger men. Between 1841
and 1850 no one seems to have specially distinguished
himself, and it is probable that the seasons were
unfavourable to skating. In 1850 Larman Register, of
Southery, came to the front, and for four years was
unrivalled. He was a large, tall man, with a fine,
quick, but not unusually long stroke. He skated in a
more upright position than most fen men. He was ably
supported by men of his own town, among whom were
the Porters and Butcher. It generally happened in the
races of those times, in the penultimate heats, tliree
Southery men were left in with one stranger, in which
case it was very hard upon the odd man, who had to run
a desperate race against his opponent, and then, if he
proved the winner, to be brought against the champion.

48 Hitttory of Skating.

whose previous race had been a mere sham.

Under these oircumstanoes, it was with keen interest
and delight that the pnblic witnessed in Deo., 1854, at
Welney, a race in which Smart, of Welney, defeated
all the Southery men, and, finally, L. Register ; never
giving them a chance from beginning to end, and
running in, thirty or forty yards before each of them at
the finish. W. Smart, commonly called ** Turkey,"
maintained an easy excellence for many years. He
was a typical fen skater ; his running was both morally
and physically as straight as a fen man's ought to be.
With arched back, head low down, almost between his
knees, he, as Ophelia said of Hamlet, ^^ seemed to find
his way without his eyes," for onward he went
without their aid. The power of his stroke was
enormous. He seemed to deliver it with the strength of
an ox, and from it he flung himself fearlessly forward,
with no apparent support, like a bird of prey in full
flight.

Smart was so pre-eminent that he needed no support
or second, but he had an able second m See of the same
village. See, when he first distinguished himself, had
an awkward and laborious gait, but his strength,
courage, and endurance were so great that he was
alvvays a popular favourite. He was reckoned so tough
an oppon<^nt that he received the nickname of Gutta
Percha — a substance much osed at that time for the
soles of shoes. He improved much in style, bnt, when
at his best, his action conld scarcely be called degant.

History of Skating. 49

Owing to Smart's excellence, who is a man of like age
with himself, he was never supreme, but he was as good
as any other man, and under certain circumstances
much better, for the ice was never too rough or the
course too long for him, and, whether losing or winning,
he bated '^no jot of heart or hope but still bore, up and
steered right onward." Years began to tell on both of
these men, but they seem to have had less effect on See
than Smart, and, in 1861, we find tliem dividing the
honours and winning in alternate races. These two
veterans still held on, and it was not until 1867, that
either of them could be considered *^out of the
running." They still run with their old pluck, but,
alas I not with their old speed. In the season last past,
however, W. Smart defeated, at Edgbaston Pool,
the best man which the populous town of Bir-
mingham could. bring against him by 250 yards in
one mile. Among the contemporaries of Smart, Green
of March, Wiles of Welney, and Barnes of Benwick,
ought to be mentioned. They were all good men.

It speaks highly for the excellence of Smart and See
that they so long held their ranfc as first-rate skaters.
It was not till 1867, when they were both approaching
forty years of age, that younger men wrested the victory

«

from them. It was then that the men of Holme became
famous, and the sceptre of triumph seemed likely to be
transferred from the centre to the outskirts of the
fen.

S. C. Smith and the two Sheltons distinguished

E

50 HiMory of Skating.

themselves first at Huntingdon. The former was a vety
tall and active man, and the latter were remarkably
elegant skaters. Smith, after ranning several first-
class races, soon found a rival in Cross of Ely. These
competitors were at the height of their rivalry in
1867-71. At Huntingdon, on the 4th January, 1871,
J. Cross beat Smith in the final heat, whereupon a
match was made for £50, to be run the next day.
Cross, however, refused to run on account of the dan-
gerous state of the ice. In the same week, at Peter-
borough, J. S. Smith was victor, defeating Dann in the
last heat. Cross having fallen and been beaten by old
'' Turkey " Smart. The frost then broke up and left the
question of who was the best man undecided. In sub-
sequent years neither appeared on the scene, and in
1874-5, Watkinson, who had been known as a good
skater, and had skated in first-class matches ever since he
was sixteen years old, became the champion, and held
the championship till George Smart, the present cham-
pion, surpassed all others. Since 1878 he has been
indisputably the swiftest and finest skater in England.
Excellence in speed in skating is due to many causes —
such as strength, style^ endurance, activity; and no
man can succeed on the ice racing course who is very
defective in any of these points; but, sometimes, by
great excellence in some one of them, skaters have
become pre-eminent, though by no means remarkable
in other qualities. George Smart, however, combines
almost everything that can be desired. He is 23 years

Hittory of Shading, 51

of age, 5ft. 9in. high, and weighs 12 stone, and as
Dr. li. H. H. Moxon says in his interesting little
fiketeh of him, ^^ He is a model of muscular develop-
ment, combined with lis[htness and activity ; and, to use
an old phrase^ ^ looks capable of going anywhere and
doing anything.' " Considering his age, style, and bodily
power, he seems likely to hold the championship for
many years, and in any international contest we could
not be represented by a better man. It would seem
that in him " the force of nature could no further

go."

In order to give a statistical and truthful picture of
the relative position which George Smart holds among
his competitors, we insert a Table drawn up by Mr.
Arnold Tebbutt ; from this it will be seen that he stands
like a king among his peers.

1879-80. ii^5..g § '^ '^ "^^

.;»2^.rtjoo« .oog

G. Smart, Welney — I 8 2 5 3 2 i i 3 i 27

A. Dewsbury, Oxlode ... 2 I I — i— i 6

O. See, Welney — i i i i 2 6

H. Carter, Welney • — i i i i 4

A. Hawes, Welney — I i — i — i 3

T. Watkinson, Welney ... — i— i— — i 3

J. Smart, Welney ... ... — 2 — — — i 3

J. F. Bone, Spalding ... — i — — i 2 4

W. Harrison, Downham ..,— — — i — — i 2

— Collins, Soham — — — i-..-.-.^..^^.^ 1

Total No. of races lost... — 7969631558 59

52 Histoty of Skating.

i

^i

1880.

-81.

•

G

•c

a

b

•S
>

^

•

§

%

c

1

•

(A

C

O

m

Q

•

U

<

«

CJ

CO

H

U

H

G. Smart

• • •

...

••t

—

4

3

5

4

I

2

4

4

I

—

28

W. Harrison

•••

.••

...

—

—

—

—

2

—

—

2

3

I

—

8

A. Dewsbury

...

••*

•••

—

2

—

3

—

I

I

—

8

J. Smart •.•

• • •

• t

•*.

I

2

—

I

4

—

—

I

3

13

H. Carter ...

•••

...

• • •

—

—

I

2

—

2

—

—

—

6

A. Hawes ...

. • •

...

•••

—

I

—

—

—

I

—

2

—

5

J. F. Bone

.••

...

...

—

—

I

—

2

—

—

2

I

7

— Collison

.. .

...

•••

—

I

—

I

—

—

—

I

—

—

3

G. See

• • •

...

• • t

—

—

—

I

I

—

I

—

I

—

4

T. Watkinson

.••

• • •

...

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Total No. of races lost ... 097911 898 10 10 I 82

In this Table there has been a judicious selection of
heats taken from first-class races, and it includes the
performances of all the best men. Thus, in these I4l
first-class races in the last two seasons, Smart has never
been beaten, or even pressed. There has been some
change, hov^ever, in the relative places of the other
men in the two years. Thus, in 1879-80, Dewsbury
was unquestionably second, while G. See held the third
place. In the last season Jarman Smart, the champion's
younger brother, must be held to have the second place^
for he won thirteen heats and only lost nine, while five
of them were due to his being pitted against the cham-
pion. It would be hard to decide whether Dewsbury^
Garter, or Harrison should be held to be third in thd
list of our experts. Collison is a very promising man,.

HUtory of SJcating. 53

•and it may be hoped that G. See will be in better con-
dition next year, and again show, as he once did, the
indomitable pluck of his renowned father. This Table
will also show the wonderful pre-eminence of Welney
418 a locality which produces fast skaters. That it
should supply at least two-thirds of our best men against
all England is a wonderful testimony to the excellence
•of its skating fields and water ways, and also to the
jnerits of the " sohool " which furnishes such training,
Nordelph (very near Welney), Chatteris, Southery,
'Crowland, Holme, and Ely, have all supplied good r un-
ifiers, but Welney has surpassed them all in this respect,
iand is now known as the " Metropolis of Speed
Skating.*' The greater interest in speed skating which
has been manifested throughout the country of late
years has brought more competitors into the field, but
it has done nothing to shake the supremacy of the Fen
^country. John Hill, of Billinge, Lancashire, once beat
Smart in 1880, but was beaten again by the champion
in 1881. The length of the course in each case was not
4iccurately measured, but was, probably, not much more
than one quarter of a mile with one turn in it These
^conditions, of course, give every advantage to the
■** sprint'* racer as against the *' lasting*' one, and Hill
•has very wisely abstained from meeting the champion
•over any longer course. A curious instance of the
•supremacy of the fens was exhibited at the Amateur
Championship race, which took place at Cambridge, in
'which Mr. V. llolph, in the first heat, easily beat Mr.

54 History of Skating,

C Crute^ who afterwards was declared Champion of
the London District, and easily defeated all opponents
from its 4,000,000 inhabitants. On the other hand,
Mr. Bolph, who was the champion ot the Borough of
Cambridge, was beaten by F. Norman (for two years
Amateur Champion) by sixty yards. Mr. F. Norman
is a very fine skater, his style giving evidence of great
speed without any waste of power. Judging, however,
from the times taken in races of the ^' Amateurs *' and
** Professionals " the latter are very superior. Thus,
on the same day, and over the same ice, while Mr. F.
Norman beat Mr. Louis Tebbutt in 5min. 44 l-5sec.y
which was the fastest heat of the race, 6. Smart beat
his brother in 5min. 20 2-5sec. The difference of
24 seconds in a mile and a half race is, of course, very
considerable.

This brings us to the much vexed question of the
speed of skaters. It may be, we think, accepted as a
canon of criticism of the times given in the old records,
that unless the races were for wagers against time, the
records are quite unreliable. It must be remembered
that the races of the past were got up in a hurry, and their
main object was to ascertain the relative^ and not the
absolute speed of the runners. If this were determined
and the spectators satisfied, the whole object of the
contest was attained. The bias of the human mind is
always towards excess and ^Hhe wonderful." From causes
already given, inaccuracy creeps in through many loop-
holes. The ofb-repeated statement that Gittam ran one

Htttory of Skating, 55

mile in 2min. 298ec., and Turkey Smart the same
distance in 2min. Ssec. is entirely mythical. Also the
statement that William and John Drake ran two miles
in 5^ minutes has no confirmation. It will be found
that, whenever any man ran against time for a wager
(i.e.) whenever there was anyone strongly interested
in seeing that the time and distance were accurately
taken, the time in which one mile was done was never
less than 3min , and often considerably more. Thus,
in 1871, Thomas Cross, of Ely, who, as we have seen,
was then at the height of his power, undertook to skate
a mile in three minutes on the river, and a considerable
sum of money was staked on the event. He skated the
half-mile with the wind in Imin. SOsec, and then
turned and skated back again in 2min. 22sec., making
dmin. 52sec. for the mile. The ice was, however, said
to be bad and the wind high. In discussing the question
of the speed of the early skaters, and the time assigned
to them, we cannot do better than examine the times in
which the best men have won their races since we'^have
had accurate records, that is, since the establishment of
the National Skating Association. Throughout the
whole of these races the times are remarkably consistent
if we make due allowance for the condition of the ice,
the wind, and the number of turns. By making the
ttarting point and goal identical, of course, the effect of
wind is very much eliminated, but not altogether so, as
a still day is certainly better for speed than one in which
the skater has to skate with and against the wind.

56 History of ShUing,

Now, in the last two seasons, during vbich several
hundreds of first-class heats were run, and the times
taken, no man has ever run at the rate of a mile in
three minutes.* 6. Smart ran one mile, with three
turns, at Elstree, in 3min. 17 2-5sec., and at Wroxham
the same distance, with one turn, in 3min. 20 l-5sec.
and these times are much shorter than any other under
the same conditions, A. Hawes ran the straight mile
in 3min. 17 2-5sec., and a mile, with one turn,
in 3min. 31 4-58ec. The champion has, several times,
run one mile and a half in 5min. 20 or 21sec., leaving
his opponents far in the rear, though very good men.
This time gives 3min. 33sec. for the mile. Now, from
calculations taken from a sufficiently wide basis, the
turn may be reckoned to cause a delay of six seconds,
and the diiference between a flying start and a standing
one is equivalent to three or four seconds. All this
tends to show that the champion can skate a straight
mile with a flying starts without benefit of wind, in a
few seconds under three minutes, though certainly not
less than 2min. 55sec., and that no other man can do it
in three minutes. It was in order to prove this
that the writer offered a reward to any man who
should skate the mile in 2min. 50sec. without advantage
of wind. The Secretary of the N. S. A. converted this
(with consent) into an offer of the same reward for a

* We have good reason to doubt the accuracy of the distance
in the race which took place at Swavesey, Jan. 28th, 1879.

Huto7*y of Skating. 57

straight mile with a iying start, to be done in 2m. 408.
The day was a perfectly still one, and the ice was some-
what rough, and the champion did the mile exactly in
three minutes. This result seems to have dispelled
many illusions and disappointed many expectations, yet
it was really a splendid performance. We believe that
G. Smart is the first man who has demonstrated that
this can be done. The question then arises whether the
early skaters, who are reported to have done the dis-
tance in very much shorter times, were really swifter
than those of our time. If we are to believe this we
must conclude that not only did the champion of those
days excel by an almost fabulous degree, but the
general run of the competitors were also mar\'ellously
superior to their quasi-degenerate offspring. When
Toung and May are said to have completed a two miles
course with throe turns, in 5min. 2sec. on one occasion,
and in 5min. 33sec. in a subsequent race, we are asked to
believe that they could do the two miles in as little time
as men of the present day can do one and a half miles.
Not only so, but we must also take it that Trower
and Torry, whose names were never heard of— before or
since — did the like distance under the same conditions,
in 5min. 48sec., whereas such men as Carter and Dews-
bury would take just about 7min. 20sec. to perform it,
calculating proportionally from the time in which
they have accomplished a less distance. In other words^
we must suppose that, if the men of our own day could
be pitted, man for man, against the skaters of sixty

nitbay of Siatinff.

yean ago, over their eonrae of two miles, eveiy one of
tbe poor modema ironld be beaten by almost exactly
the whole length of tb« coane, and wonld be just
ronnding the barrel at the far end when their opponenta
were passing the winning post. He most be a most
insatiable " laudator temporis aeti" who wonld con-
cade thiij, and yet the only alternative is to admit tliat
tbe times and distances recorded are quite nntnist-
worth;. It is certainly vexatious that we have no
means of comparing the pace of Gittam and Young
with that of the brothers G. and J. Smart of otir time,
bat it is some consolation that for the tblure we shall
be able to compare the speeds of men of difierent epochs.
Doubtless, if the Drakes, Gittam, Toung, Farrer,
Needham, Register, W. Smart and See, and Smith and
Cross, Watkinson, and oar own champion, could be all
in their prime together, wd should witness some very
good races, but it is impoasible to say, or even to con-
jecture, who would be the winners. If, however, we
make the rough assumption that the generality of second
rate men are approximately of equal speed, and judge
ot the several " champions " by their snpremaey over
their contemporaries, we have good reason to suppose
that " Tnrkey " and '* Fish " Smart were never sur-
passed, for each in his epoch distanced his rivals much
mnrn tlinroiigtily than the ancient heroes did.

ueeil in skating has been very much over-
'ly most people, a contrary error has been
by others } thus, we have read long articles

Hiitorf of Skating. 59

on the eomparative speed of runners on land and skaters
on the ice, in which it is scarcely admitted that the
latter have much the atlvantage. This, however, is past
a doabt At the distance of one mile the relative pace
of the skater to the runner is about three to two.
Thus, it has been demonstrated by G. Smart that a mile
can be done in three minutes on the ice, and four and a
half minutes would be considered very good time on
foot and on land. It is true that the shortest recorded
time of the runner has been 4min. 17sec., but it should
be remembered that this short time has been culled
from thousands of races occurring during many years,
while the trials on ice have been of most rare occar-
rence, and it is not unreasonable to suppose that this
lime of three minutes may be improved upon to such
an extent as to sustain the proportion of three to two.
In all distances over a mile this proportion would, pro-
bably, be maintained. Thus, eleven miles in an hour
would be considered a very great running feat, and
it is probable that a first-class skater could do from
sixteen to seventeen miles in the hour, though this
needs confirmation. For distances less than a mile the
proportionate speed of the skater would be less, and if
a start from rest has to be made by both, the skater
would be at a very great disadvantage. If, however,
Ae start be eliminated, we believe it will be found that,
at no distance, however short, can the runner compete
with the skater. Comparing the speed of gpoA bicyclists
with skaters, we must give a clear preference to the

60 HuAory of Skaling.

bicyclist. The ratio will be found to be aboat ten to
nine for all distances.

The skating pace which compares most favourably
with progression on land, is the ordinary travelling
pace at which a fen-man goes from place to place. Any
skilled fen skater can travel throughout the short
winter's day at the rate of ten miles an hour, with no
greater fatigue than he could walk at the rate of four
miles per hour, and he could increase this pace up to
twelve or fourteen miles an hour without being much
distressed.

A few remarks on the arrangements of the skating
races may not be out of place here. This is explained
at page 65. Now, it will be obvious that there are

■

some grave objections to their method. It might be
suggested why should not the competitors all start
together over a wide course, as the horses do at the
Derby, and that this course might be either in a straight
line, or carried round a meadow by a gentle curve. No
doubt such a race, if it could be effected on any terms of
fairness, would present a fine spectacle. A circular course,
however, is very unsuited to this style of progression, and
however slight the curve there would be a conscious
lopsidedness in the action and pace would be lost If
the course was straight, ending I or 1^. or 2 miles
from the starting point, to take the time would be
extremely difficult, and the duties of the judge could
hardly be carried out satisfactorily. Add to this, as is
well-known to all fen skatera, the fact that one man

History of Skating, 61

can skate behind another with far greater ease than in
front, on account of the opposition of the atmosphere,
and tlie bending of the ice, and it will be seen that a
cunning runner would skate dose behind his opponent
for nine-tenths of the way, and then, taking advantage
of a freshness which he has secured at his expense,
would sh'p before him at the finish and run in, an in-
glorious winner. At the Amateur Championship held
at Cambridge last season, the course was not divided
down the middle as it ought to have been, and the
manoeuvre referred to was definitely tried by an inferior
man, but was, fortunately, not successful. Perhaps it
might be thought that an intermediate course might be
tried by having four or eight parallel courses and
starting as many men upon them. Those, however, who
know the difficulty of selecting, preparing, and keeping
one double course clear, will hardly advocate such a
procedure.

Against these disadvantages we have to sot, tliat in
the accepted method of running by heats, the men run
absolutely over the same ice throughout the whole of its
length. The question of wind is, to a great extent,
eliminated, so that comparison between races can be
more easily made. The spectators all along the course
have the opportunity of seeing the men pass four times,
and the judge and time-keeper's duties are simple and
easy. With regard to the passing, it seldom results in
any foul or difficulty. The writer has witnessed
hundreds of encounters round the barrels at each end,

62 HiUory of Shouting.

and can scarcely recall, one in which a collision has
obviously affected the race, and, to the credit of fen men
be it said, only on two occasions has he witnessed any
attempt at unfairness in passing. Tt is, however, desi-
rable that 8 convention should be established as to the
rule which should be observed by the men when passing.
A very simple rule would be fi>r each man to keep to
the right hand, as on the pavement Instead of this
simple rule, the one adopted .by the National Skating
Association is this: — ^^That each competitor shall be
^' required to keep his own course, and in rounding the
^^ turn the skater who is first up to the turn be entitled
^^ to the inside turn ; but, where the competitors are on
^^ equal terms when approaching the turn, the skater
'^ whose left hand is next the post be entitled to the
^^turn/' In the first instance it was proposed
that the competitor who passed on his wrong
side should be ipso facto disqualified from winnlnij^.
Such a rule was absurd in itself, because if one
competitor went to his wrong side, the other must
do so also, and the loser would always have it in
his power to claim a foul. In the last champion-
sliip meeting one of the competitors gave up the contest
just as he had completed his first round, and having a
right to the inside by the existing rule, lejft the course
going off to his right-hand side, and thus leaving the
baiTol dear. Of course, bis competitor instead of running
right out oi the course to get round him, hugged the
deserted barrel and continued his way. Singularly

HUtwry of Skating. 63

enough, it was then maintained that if the unsucoessful
oompetitor had claimed his race it must have been allowed
him. It is almost needless to say that the race was net
objected to, and, certainly, if it had been, the Judge on
that occasion .would not have allowed the objection, and
in so doing he would have been adhering to the rules, for
the above-quoted rule (28), is simply declaratory and has
no peiial force. Of course, as the rule stands, if a col-
lision occurred, and this either affected the race or was
due to foul play, it would be the duty of the Judge to
give the race against the man who kept to the right
when it had been declared it was for him to go to the
left. It will be seen that the author, differs from the
majority oi the committee who framed the rules, as to the
side on which it is expedient to pass. As originally
framed the men were to keep to the right, but it is
stated that the racing men hold that to keep to the left
is the proper arrangement We conjecture that this
opinion arose in the following way :— In the old time
there was certainly no rule of any kind, and men
scrambled for the in»ide. Now, most men turn more
easily to the left than to the right, and the man on the
right-band course would have the advantage in the
scramblci and to be able to secure the further advantage
of taking the inside turn. This, however, in om*
opinion, is just the reason why the converse arrange-
ment should be made^ and passing to the right should
bo the convention both for rounding the barrel and on
the straight.

64 History of Skating.

With regard to the number ot competitors, the order
in which they compete, and the distribution of the
prizes : it will be found that a main of sixteen men
forms the best race. This number works out to the
finish without any byes ; that is, without any man
having to run the course without an opponent. Any
power of two will produce the same result, but a less
number, as, for instance eight, will hardly satisfy the
spectators, and a larger number, as, for instance, thirty-
two, hardly leaves time enough for the spectators to
return home along the ice highways by which they
have come before the set of sun. With the greatest
expedition scarcely more than eight heats can be accom-
plished in an hour, and, as a main of thirty-two would
require thirty-one heats four hours is required, and this
is too long. The selection of the sixteen competitors
should be left absolutely to the committee, and it
is their duty to chose those whom they think the
best men. The pairing is best done by lot, for though the
best matches cannot bo thus secured in the first heats,
an arbitrary selection is sure to give umbrage to those
who are pitted hopelessly against better men. Sometimes
an intermediate course is taken by dividing the lots into
two, and placing in different halves the men whom it
is undesirable should run against one another in the first
heats. In this case, of course, the two men who are
considered best would be placed in different divisions.

History of Shaiing. 65

We here insert the suggestions for the promoters of
skating matches, pablished by the St. Ives' Branch of
the National Skating Association. They have been
well thought out and clearly expressed, and are to be
recommended to the study of all those interested in
races.

RULES AND ARRANGEMBNTS OF HEATS.

A, — The names of all persons entered to be drawn in
pairs, and they shall run in the order drawn.

jB. — The winners of the first heats run the second heats
in the order of the draw, and so on in all the
heats.

a— If there is an odd number of entries, the man last
drawn to run a bye (called a natural bye).

D. — No skater shall be entitled to more than one
natural bye unless all who are left in have had a
natural bye, but the next runner above the per-
son who has had one natural bye shall be entitled
to the next, and so on until an even number of
competitors shall be lefl in.

^.— If any runner is absent when his turn arrives, he
has forfeited hjs right to run, and the starter
may, as soon as he thinks fit, direct his opponent
to skate a bye (this is called an accidental bye
and is not referred to in the above rules).

F, — In the case of all byes, the skater shall skate over
the course when directed to do so by the starter.

G. — Each man to keep his own track and not to pass
over the division line.

F

66 History of Skating.

J?.— Each man in passing his opponent at the turn, and
also in passing at any other part of the course,
to keep to his own right-hand side.

/.-^The breach of these rules shall not disqualify any
man^ unless it is so decided by the Judge.

J. — All complaints of fouls, disqualifications, etc., must
be made to the Judge immediately after the race.

K* — The Judge*s decision in all matters to be final.

National Skating Association^ Saint Ives^ Branchy
Hon. Sec. : Mr. J. G. Hankin^ St. TveSy Hunts.

SUGGfiSTIOKS FOB THB PROMOTERS OF SKATING

MATCHES.

Prizes — For a Grand Match to attract the best runners
in the country, the sum of £16 to £20 is needed.
The following is a good method of dividing any
sum that may be available in a race of 16 runners.
After deducting a small sum, say 2/6 to 5/- each,
for the eight losers of the first heats, the remaining
amount may be divided into four parts, and each
part is to be equally divided among the winners of
one set of the heats.
Thus, for £16.

8 Winners of ist heats at lo/- ... 400

4 „ 2nd „ 20/- .. 400

2 „ 3rd „ 40/- .. 400

I „ 4th „ 80/- •• 400

£16 o o

History of Skating, 67

The following would be the winnings of eaeh man*

1st man ••• ••• ••• ••• 7 ^^ ^^

2nd ditto ••• ... ••• 3 lo o

3rd and 4th. ditto, at 30/- ... ... 300

Four other men at 10/* ... ••• 200

£16 o o

Whatever method of dividing the money ig adopted
the object shoald be to produce the best running*

Entrance Fees — It is best to charge a small entrance
fee, sav 2/- to 2/6, to be forfeited by the decision
of the Judge (together with the prize money) in
case of absence or misconduct, but otherwise to be
returned.

Prizes for Speed — If there are sufficient funds it is
desirable to give an extra prize to the man who
runs the race in the shortest time.

Selection of Men — All applications for entry need not
be granted, but only those shall be selected who
may be expected to prove good runners. If a time
is fixed for closing the entrance list it should be
made known.

Number of Runners — Promoters of Races should fix if
they will have 32, 16, or 8, and not receive any
additional names, except provisionally, to meet
cases of vacancies arising. A 32 match takes too
long a time to be satisfactorily run off, if time is
given for people to come from and return to distant
parts.

Length of Course — The most desirable courses are the

68 History of Skating.

following, and are to be preferred in the order

given.

660 yards, twice up and down, 3 turns ... I Smiles.

880 ,, }» f> 9> ••• 2 „

550 »» >> »» '• •" ^* "

293K yards, three times up and down, 5 turns 1 4 „

For boys or untrained skaters.

440 yards, twice up and down, 3 turns ... I „

Arrangement of Course. — To allow of all the spectators
seeing as much as possible of the races, a course
of greater width should be reserved than is actually
needed for the track. If there is snow on the ice,
about one foot width of swept up snow between
the tracks forms a capital division Ime. Lumps of
earth, sods of grass, or logs of wood, will also
serve to mark the division line. If there is a turn
in the course, the division, and also a boundary
mark on the inside of the turn must be shown at
that point, to prevent a corner being cut off by the
runners. Each tract should be swept, certainly,
10 feet wide, and from that up to 12 feet or more,
but the public should be kept off a width of 30 feet
from side to side, by which their own view is much
improved. As much of the course as possible
should be roped off by means of empty barrels,
such as old flour or cement barrels, with ropes
from barrel to barrel twisted round a piece of wood
stuck up in tho barrels. Especially should the
ends of the course be thus divided off, and at the
last three chains (66 yards) the reserved space

History of Skating. 69

should swell out to about 40 feet wide (the greatest
width being about one chain from the ends).
The winning post must, of course, be fixed so as
to allow of a fair distance for stopping beyond
the post. A heavy or well-weiijhted barrel should
be placed at the turning points for the skaters to
grasp as they swing round.

Officials and their Duties. — The Judge. — Who shall
have full control of all the others, and decide all
points of dispute. He may think it wise to depute
some one to be at the further turning point during
the running to report to him what occurs there.

The Starter — He will tell the men about to race, his
method of starting. The men being both prepared
and standing level for the start, he will place him-
self in view of both and will ask — Are you ready ?
and receiving no answer to the contrary, he will
almost immediately drop a handkerchief from his
hand (in default of a pistol being used to start
them). If both men prefer to start themselves be
can allow them to do so.

Colours — Coloured Ribbons or Scarfs, say blue for the
odd numbers and the right side of the course ; and
red for the even and left side of the course, are
tied round the men's bodies.

Time^Keeper — The Time-keeper, with a stop watch to
take the exact time of the heats. This adds much
to the interest of the whole affair, and to the
accounts given in the newspapers.

TO History of Skating^

Course Keepers — Course Keepers, who skate in couples

holding a stout rope 20 to 25 feet in length. It is

their duty to keep the course clear, and to remove

any obstructions that may be ihere. No one but

the oiScials, the competitors, and those actually in

attendance upon them should be allowed within

the barrier lines, and none of these should stand

on the track, or on the division line, when the race

is being run. If the course keepers neglect their

duties, or show any favouritism by allowing any

individual to skate or encroach upon the course,

others will insist on a like advantage, and the

whole will shortly be a scene of confusion.

BeU — A man with a Bell. The business of bringing

off the races is much facilitated if there is a man

with a large hand bell, whose duty it is to ring up

the men for the next race, to toll all the time the

race is being run, ringing rather quicker during

the last time down, and just as the men turn at

the post.

Black Board — If a black board could be suspended on

which to write the name or number of the winners

of the last heat and the timing of the race, the

public would be much convenienced.

The arrangements have been somewhat varied, and

experiments have been made of late years. Thus, at

Cowbit Wash a straight mile course was tried, and at

Litdeport a course of 1,400 metres with one turn. We

think we are right in stating that the racing committee

History of Skating, 71

are confirmed in their jadgment — that the most eligible
course is a one and a half mile course with three turns
(i.e.), a course 660 yards long, to bo run twice up and
down. On such a course the winner in a race where
there are sixteen entries has to run (li X 4) six miles,
and the distance is quite enough to test the lasting
qualities of the men. The old standard course was, as
we have seen, two miles, but it was generally curtailed
to about the present length, either from the first, or
during the course of the race, so that the alleged dis-
tance was merely nominal. The distance of 1,400
metres, at Littleport, was adopted on account of the
projected international contest which was to have come
off in Holland if the frost had lasted. The ordinary
course in Friesland is short, being only 160 metres, or
about 174 yards long. In these races, sometimes, 120
to 160 skaters compete. The Dutch, however, very
courteously conceded to us so far as to make the distance
and conditions as above named. Jack Frost was cer-
tainly in one of his most capricious moods when, all
things being fixed for the International Contest, he
suddenly threw down his warder, demolished the lists,
and indefinitely postponed the issue of the challenge.
We have this interesting contest to look forward to, and
we can only conclude by recommending to the gallant
** Welney Division," and all the fine young fellows who
showed us so much good sport last season, to observe
that temperance and exercise which preserves youth and
secures joyous health, so that when they meet the Dutch,

72 History of Skating.

whom they are sure " to find worthy of their steel,'*
on their own canals^ we may be able to say —

"And you, good /?wmen,
" Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
" The mettle of your pasture ; let us swear
** That you are worth your breeding : which I doubt not :
" For there is none of you so mean and base,
" That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
" I see you stand, like greyhounds in the slips,
*' Straining upon the start.*'

SKATES AND SKATING.

N this chapter we propose dividing th« subject which
has fallen to our share into five parts, under the
following headings : I — Skates, II — Learning to Skate,
III — The Theory of Skating, IV — Attention to Ice
Fields, V— The Game of Hockey.

I— SKATING.
In buying a pair of running skates — for figure-skates
are not referred to in the following remarks— it will be
found cheaper in the long run to procure those of the
very best quality. The size required is determined by
the length of the foot and should equal the sole of the
boot in length ; thus, a person the sole of whose boot
measures lOj^in. will require a lO^in. skate ; i.e. one
the wood-work of which measures lO^in. in length.
Running skates are sold in about nine sizes, the smallest
being 8 inches, the next 8^in, and so on up to 12in.

Skates of very good quality (without straps) should
cost at the rate of about Is. to Is. 3(1. per inch in length.
A set of four straps will cost from at least Is. 9d. to 28.
Thus a pair of skates complete, to suit a person with a

74 Skates and Skating^

boot 11 in. in length, will cost from 13s. to 148.; but
from 16s. to 20s. is charged for a pair of superior make,
though we fear the chief part of the extra charge goes

Figure I.

for ornamental additions of brass, &c., such as are
shown in fig. 1, which represents one of the best of this
kind of skate hitherto in the market; on the other
hand, skates sold complete at less than Is. per inch
cannot be relied on. We therefore advise our readers
to avoid these two extremes of inferior quality and of
useless ornamentation. We know of no skate which
meets these requirements more completely than the
** Standard Runninor Skates."

The following is a copy of a published circular
relating to them : —

National Skating Association, Saint Ives^ Branch.
Hon Sec: Mr. J. G. Hankin, Saint Ives, Hunts.

STANDARD RUNNING SKATES.

Our Parent Society, the National Skating Association
at its last General Meeting (held Oct. 14th, 3881),
having finally resolved not to adopt any scheme of a
like nature, our Standard skates are the only ones for
8peed*skating which are authorized by any pnblic body.

Tliere having been great difficulty and uncertainty in
procuring skates of approved shape, construction and
quality, a committee was appointed to collect such

Skaiei and Shating, 75

information as was needful to remedy this state of
things.

The Committee found tliat the caprices and changes
of fashion and want of intercourse between experienced
skaters and the matiufaolurers had prevented running
akates being constructed on approved principles, and a
fashion (admitted on all hands to be foolish) had sprung
up of using walnut wood even in skates of the best
quality in other respects.

The Committee have introduced into the general
manufacture several improvements which for some years
have been known to skaters in these districts.

In conference with the leading manufacturers and
retailers, they have decided upon the most suitable
design and construction for Running Skates.

Skates made upon their models are called *^ Standard
Bunning Skates/' and they keep specimens, should need
arise for comparison with those sold to the public. They
will give permission to approved manufacturers to use
the Association registered marks (shewn be^ow)*
This they would withdraw if they were applied to skates
different in design, or inferior in material or workman-
ship which must be of the very best.

Although tliese skates must of necessity be somewhat
more expensive than skates of average quality, yet
their cost does not nearly equal that of the best sorts
hitherto sold, while from their construction they will
last, without breakage or injury, far longer than any
oilier skates which can be bought.

76 Skates and Skating.

The ^^ Standard Racing Skates*' in addition to
the name of the maker have the device of a
V> barrel and fla^, and the letters S.R. upon the
blade and upon the straps. These skates are
distinctively suited for fast travelling, for racing and for
all descriptions of skating practised by good running
skaters.

The " Standard Hockev Skates " bear the device
v^ of two crossed sticks and a ball, with the
S A. H letters S.H. upon the blade and upon the straps.
^^^^^ These skates are exactly the same as the others,
except that the blades are stronger made, and are more
rounded at the bottom ; they will therefore be preferred
by most hockey plaj'^ers, by heavy people, and also by
ladies and others who prefer ease in turning to speed, not
wishing to go fast or to perform long journeys.

The " Standard " Skates are made in six sizes or
numbers, corresponding to the length (in inches) of
the boot, viz: 9^, 10, 10^, 11, 11^ and 12, and the
straps in each size are of suitable length.

We have chosen the skate described above for our
illustrations, as we do not know of a better kind for
representation.

Fig. 2, page 78, shows various vievs of the whole
skate, and fig. 3, page 79, of the several parts which
compose it and the trade marks (H.I.) These
registered marks being punched on the skate-iron and
on the straps, is the guarantee of their being of the

Skates and Skating, 77

approved design and being equal in quality and work-
manship to the standard fixed upon. D shows the
screw-rod which is inserted to strengthen the wood-
woik at the toe end of the bkate, and also for the
purpose of better securing the blade in its place, even
when the wood becomes somewhat decayed. This
improvement has never before been supplied to the
public.

E. are new forms of sole spikes which are
screwed into the wood from the under side, and may
be turned so as to project more or less to suit the kind
of boots worn by the skater. This also is an expedient
introduced by the Association to remedy the well
known faihng of the ordinary spiked pegs, which are
continually becoming bent or displaced. It is to be
hoped that this invention, or some modification of it,
will prove eflTective. If in process of time these screws
should wear loose in the wood, the same or fresh ones
could be inserted in new holes, situated a little distance
in front of the old ones.

The faulty shape of the prow, or turned up part of
tlie metal in front of the toe, which is seen in some
skates, and entails their liability to breakage and other
inconveniences, has been avoided in these skates.
Instead of the prow being prolonged in a strdight line
for a little distance in front of the wood, it begins
immediately to rise off the ice, but at a gradually
increasing angle, by this means it runs easily over
inequalities in the icO; and does not scratch it in a

78

Skaie$ and Skating.

grating or unpleasant manner when the fool leaves the
ice. Those who desire to let the toe dwell a long time on
the ice have only to 6x the skates forwarder on the
boot, or to buy skates an inch Imiger than they would
otherwise require

The ^' Standard ^* Skates including straps are sold to
the public at about Is. 6d. per inch, and will be found

^

Fig. 2. (Scale i Linear*)

far cheaper in tlie end than any other kind that can be
bought. The straps are of a quality ne\*er hitherto
sold with running skates ; and in addition to this, the
length of the straps and the arrangement of the holes
strictly accord with the various sizes <^ the skates,
which is not generally the case.

Skates and Skating,

79

The Committee which took this matter in hand had
the assistance and advice of Mr. Sidney Tebbutt, who
is not only himself an excellent skater and the winner
of races, but has a professional knowledge of mechanics
and metal work. We therefore need not go into further
details, but may conclude that the various requirements
which will be afterwards described as essential to a
good pair of skates, will be found in this pattern.

B \^

•^n*

SFPiK

" E H , F

Fig. 3. (Scale ^ Linear.)

If for any reason our readers do not wish to buy
either of these ^^ Standard '' skates, we recommend thcm^
supposing they cannot rely on their own judgment, to
fmst to that of some shopman who is himself a &rkater.
If they ash for a ^^ Whittlesea Runner,"' thoy will,
perhaps, obtain a fairly good shape of running skate,

80 Skates and Shxting,

but for the last twenty years this name has been
applied to such a variety of forms that it is a mere
chance if the quality and the shape will be of the best.
Any full priced skate of the fen pattern will, however,
be sufficiently correct in shape to suit those who are
not fur advanced in the art of skating, or those who
are not especially concerned to have things exactly
right, though the purchasers will be fortunate indeed
if they obtain a pair which will last more than one or
two seasons without repairs.

On the choice of a pair of Skates. — The following
hints may be of service to a purchaser who is obliged
to follow his own judgement in his choice of a pair of
skates. The bottom of the blades should in no case
be quite flat, but should be more or less convex along
the whole length. To test this, let the buyer place the
two skates bottom to bottom, and holding them up to a
good light, if the irons are properly shaped he will see
that while they touch at the middle there is a percepti-
ble space between the two irons at the heels, and also
under the front part of the wood. If, however, they
touch in two places the skates should be rejected, as
one skate (perhaps both) must be concave instead of
being convex. It is, however, possible that a pair of
skates, one of which is convex and the other sliohtly
hollow, might appear correct by this test, it is therefore
also necessary to try each blade upon a perfectly flat
surface. A very slight hollowness in one of the blades
might be corrected on a grindstone, but it is far prefer-

Skates and Skating, 81

able to buy those which do not re([uire regrinding.
It would of course be very difficult to measure the
curves of the blades, but they can be tested with sufB-
cieut accuracy by the following method : place the
two irons together in the manner described, except
that in this case it will be convenient to place one skate
bottom upwards on a table ; a tliick post card inserted
between them at the heel ends and another between
them at the toe ends, should fill up the spaces in the
case of skates required for racing. But the thickness
of two such post cards would not be too much to suit
the taste of some.

The blades cannot be ground to an exact measure-
ment, but we believe that 1-64 of an inch rise from the
ice at each end gives a good curve, especially if
the last |in. at the heel is ground off a little more.
And 1-32 of an inch rise is not too much for general
purposes.

Again, if the eye, when looking down the length of
the cutting edges of the blade, detects any sideways
departure from an absolutely straight line, the skates
should be rejected. The buyer can have the thickness
of the blade measured ; 10-64 of an inch is a suitable
average width, less than 9-64 would only suit a boy
and roughly speaking about 1-64 for every stone of
weight, or, for every inch in length of the foot fs a
suitable thickness. As to the hardness of the steel
welded along the bottom of the blade, although a most
important point, even an expert could only test it by

82 Skates and Skating,

filing or scratching the edge, and the shopman would
hardly allow of this being done to any but a second
hand skate ; sometimes the depth of this steel part is
in places too little ; less than 3-16 of an inch being
insufficient. By breathing on the blade and watching
the time the moisture remains upon it, the amount of
steel may sometimes be detected. If the skate is made
of walnut wood, as is often the case, the buyer may
conclude that it will soon split, unless this is provided
against by the addition of metal plates, &a; though he
may perhaps, amongst a great number, find one pair
that has a grain sufficiently twisted to prevent splitting.
Straps. — Even if a good pair of skates be purchased^
there is much difficulty in making sure oi obtaining
good straps with them, owing to the fact that those
who sell hardware are not usually judges of leather,
and those who sell saddlery are not usually judges of
skates.

The leather of the straps should be of the very best
quality and should therefore be cut from the very best
hides, and from the very best part of the hide, viz, from
the Butts and not from the Belly, or other inferior parts.
They should be cut from the best bridle butts, that is
from leather whence the hand parts of the bridle reins
are cut, the most pliant and serviceable leather being
used in that part of a horse's reins which is held in the
rider's hand. Skate straps of this kind, beside having
many other advantages, will, when subject to wear,
last twice as long as others. The straps should be 5-8

SkaUa and Skating. 83

of an inch wide and about 1-8 of an inch thick, and the
holes about ^ an inch apart from centre to centre. The
buckles should have rollers upon them.

Length of Straps. — About | in. added to the actual
length'of the foot, or the measurement along the sole and
heel^ or from the heel end of the upper leather to the toe
•end, will give about the same length and determines
the size of the skates* Each size of skate should have
a correspondent length of strap. The straps are
supposed to suit any shaped foot and to allow about
four inches of length to spare, to pull up with ; when
the straps are new, or, in the case of a very plump
foot, there will be one inch less to spare. But even
straps of good quality will after a little use stretch
as much as 1-24 of their length. Roughly speakings
the heel straps should be twice the length of the skate -
measure, and the toe strap 1-3 longer than the heel
strap, these measurements are from the head of the
strap on the buckle end of the leather.

Of course these matters ought not to require the
attention of those who buy skates, as each pair should
be furnished with straps whose lengths are appropriate
to the size; but this rarely happens, for it is the
custom to make the sets of straps in only two lengths|
and one of these sets has to do duty whatever the size
of the skates may be. As also new straps have some-
times to be procured I when the length of the old ones
cannot be ascertained, the following tables may be
found of service. These tables give an idea

84

Skates and Skating,

as to tlie respective lengths of the skates and straps
required, and the ayerage thickness of the irons; in
these, and other details, the measurements given are
necessarily only approximate.

Height of
Person.

Trade size
of Boot.

Size of Skate.

Inches of

wood.

Thickness of
Skate.
Iron.

Length of
heel straps.

Length cf
Tee Strap.

No.

.

12

6 ft.

fio
9i
9

12

64

23
22

32

5 .» " ^'

5 »» io »»

II

31

5 .1 9 >i

5 ft 8 „
5 », 7 »

g J

Si

\ 8

1 ■■

)

64

21

30

5 »> 6 „

k

f xoj

10

20

28

5 w 5 >»

t

■■s^
2

6

LSI

5

4J

4

3i

3

2

9
8J

64

19
18

16
15

27

5 >• 4 i»

5 »> 3 »
5 „ 2 «
5 ff I f>

9
64

26
24

5 »

8
64

•s

|:*

23
22

8

The thickness of the skate iron might be 2-64 greater,
if much strength should be required, and will not then^
be especially clumsy, but greater thickness should be-
avoided as it is found to tire the skater as well as^
encumber him with additional weight.

Skates and Skating. 85

Boots /or Skating. — The best walking boots are the
best skating boots. Boots of stout leather with broad
•and thick sole and heel, and square toes, and well laced
up, such as are shown in our illustration, will give
•ease and comfort in skating, and prevent the tight-
ness of the skate straps from hurting the foot.
Those who consult fashionable appearanee in their
boots at the expense of usefulness, are not likely to be
sportsmen, or to be readers of this book. Buttons on
boots are inconvenient, being apt to come in the way
of the straps. Laced-up gaiters fastened over elastic-
sided boots to give support to the ankles in skating, are
sometimes to be seen (see fig. 6, C, page 89).

The only thing needed to prepare boots for skating,
is to make a hole in the heel for the heel-screw of the
skate. Making these holes should not be put off until
the ice is reached, but they should be made at a leisure
time. Having placed the boots, soles upward, on the
table, proceed to mark the positions in which the holes
are to be. Usually the holes are placed in the centre
line of the heel. Some skaters, who profess to have
carefully considered the matter, prefer placing the hole
1-4 to 3-8 of an inch on the inner side of the centre
line of the heel, but this is a refinement upon which
we do not desire to give a definite opinion. As to how
far from the back of the heel the hole should be placed,
that must depend \i\von the length of the heel of tlie
ekate blade. For such skates as are shewn in our
illustrations, the boot hole should be made as far from

Skatet and Skating,

the back of the heel, as tbo distance of the screw of the
skate from the end of the wood ; the object being to
brin;; the heel end of the skate iion about l|inch (ia
say a 10 into 1 linch skate) in front of the back of the

Fig. 4. (Scale ^ Linear.)
heel of the skater's foot. Some skaters may prefer
it say 3-8 of nn inch more foirward, othera as much
backwarder, but the above is a fair average of opinions.
The heel end of the skate iron will then be forward

SkaU$ and Skatinff,

enongh to enalile the skater to stop bimself with case,
and yet not so much so as to endanger his falling
backwards by any misfortune (see figure 4, A).

Having thus marked the position of the spike holes,

C E

Fig. 5. (Scale i Linear.)
the skaters will proceed to make the holes with a
good and sharp gimlet of suitable size. Jf the gimlet
is too small there will be much difficulty in screwing
the spike in, and it will make the leather bulge out at

88 Skates and Skating,

the bottom ; if too large, the hole will soon cease to
hold the thread of the screw. It should be of the
width of about the middle of the shaft of the screw
spike. A bradawl first run straight down into the heel
will greatly aid the gimlet and keep it from gcJin^
down obliquely ; the heel spikes should then be screwed
in until the wood-work touches the heel, and carefully
unscrewed again, and any leather that has bulged out
too much, should be cut off. It will be advisable to
put the boots on the feet, and fix the skates on, as
would be done for actual skating, taking care not to
tread with the skate irons on anj'- nails in the floor, or
other hard substances. Let the straps be then fastened
up in order to see that they are of the proper length,
and notice the best position upon the foot for placing
the buckles (see figure 4 and 5, A, B & E. A, being
the outer side of the foot). The buckle ends of both
heel and toe straps are placed in the outer side of the
skate, so that the skater can get a good pull when
tightening the straps. When the straps are fastened
up there should be about four inches to spare at the
end of all the straps, this only just allows of a good
hold for the hand in pulling ; unfortunately if they are
longer there is entailed the danger of the spare end
getting under the skate iron and thus throwing the
skater down ; this danger can generally be prevented
by placing the buckles in the positions which are
shown in the figures. If, however, the buckle-loops
hold the strap's-ends fairly tight the latter may be

Skates and Skating.

89

fastened by being passed the reverse way through the
loop, viz., towards the buckle. Some people who take
particular pains to have their skates well arranged and
capable of being easily and quickly taken off and on,
have screw holes made into the wood of the skate, {as
shown in figure 7, A & B), 1-4 to 3-8 from the centre
line. Having placed the straps in the proper position,
so that the leather-head is, say, six inches from the hole
in the case of the toe strap, and about seven inches in

Fig. 6. (Scale ^ Linear.)

the case of the heel strap {see figure 7), they drive in
the screw through the centre of the strap (they would
do better to have an eyelet with, say, 1-8 of an inch
hole, inserted in each strap in the position indicated).

The only real objection to this plan is the trouble
involved in having it done, and the fact that the wear
of the straps always falls upon the same part; the
latter difficulty can, however, be remedied by taking
out the screws and shifting the position of the straps
about an inch either way.

90 Skates and Skating.

If, in Bkating, it is found that the pressure of the
strap hurts the ioot, a particular part of the strap maj be
slipped through two slits made in a piece of stout
pliant leather (see figure 6, B, page 89), which placed
over the tender part will protect it from the strap.
For a similar reason somo people have the buckles
guarded by a flap stitched on to the buckle end of the
strap (see figure H, A, page 89), but it is undesirable to
have this addition, unless the inconvenience we speak
of has been actually experienced.

Practised skaters usually have their skates placed
upon the feet so that the blade of the skate passes under
the centre of the second joint of the great toe, or
certainly not further outward than the cleft between
the first and second toe, so that the line of the blade
passes along about one inch from the inside edge of
the sole of the shoe, as is shown at figure 5, E. and D.,
page 87.

There is much trouble in getting it done, but it has
been found very convenient to have a piece of iron
(for various views of which, see C. D. E., figure 7,
page 91), screwed on the top of the wood of the skate
(A) and about three inches from the front, to keep
the skate in exactly the desired position upon the shoe*

This piece of iron may either be bedded into the
wood or simply screwed on the top ; this plan of course
involves using a particular skate, whether right or left,
being applied to that particular foot, but as both edges
of the skate iron ought to wear equally, this should not

Skates and Skating.

91

be an objection There is another advantage in this
method, in those cases where the iron projects
slightly over the wood-work, it serves as a guard to
the toe strap immediately in front from occasional
contact with the ice, as will^be understood by looking at
figure 9, page 94.

The sole spikes are supposed to keep the skate in the
desired position on the shoe, this will perhaps be

I ® <^\

C

Q

B

[

m

Fig. 7. (Scale i Linear.)

better attained by making little holes to receive the full
length of the sde spikes, though without this trouble
they will perhaps bed themselves sufHoiently,

Having made the spike holes in the boots or cleared

out those made in a previous winter, it is a good plan

before going out on the road, to fill the holes with some

eubstance to pr0\*ent stones and grit getting in. If a

92 Skates and Skating.

large stone shoalJ become wedged in, it will give much
trouble to extract it, and the hole may be so enlarged
as not to hold the threads of the screw.

The best and most conrenient substances for stopping
is common soap, moist bread, cheese, lard, or anything
of a similar kind which comas ready to hand will also
serve the purpose. While carrying the skates on the
way to the ice-field, great care should be taken not to
allow the skate irons to knock together ; to avoid this, it
is best to fasten the skates together, wood to wood, by
moans of the front straps and carry them by the heel
straps, made into a loop by buckling.

Those who have their straps screwed in the wood, as
described at page 89, can fasten the two skates toge*
ther by the heel straps, and by placing them round the
neck, like an untied scarf, can carry them safely and
conveniently, thus leaving the hands disengaged.

Ordinary gimlets are rather dangerous to* carry in
the pocket, even when protected by a cork. Some
(see figure 8, A, page 93), suitable for skaters, are sold
with a brass cap (B) screwed over the point when not
in use. Another kind (C), of a somewhat similar con-
struction, can be conveniently and safely carried in the
waistcoat pocket, as it has no fixed cross handle, but
only a metal ring (D) to receive the screw-cap (E),
which thus also serves as a handle when the gimlet
is in use (F).

Having buckled up first the toe and then the heel
straps moderately tight, it will be best to skate about a

Skates and Skating.

93

little, as, after a time, the straps can easily be pulled to
the requisite tightness.

Skaters will often ]be seen returning for help to get
their heel straps drawn "just one hole tighter," but
only succeeding in having it pulled one half the dis-
tance, they are tempted to have an intermediate hole

3)

B

>•

Fig. 8. (Scale \ Linear.)

made. This should never be done, as, if the holes aie
less than half an inch apart they wiU, even in the best
leather, tear through from one to another. The incon-
venience had better be borne than recourse had to this
remedy.

94 Skates and Skating.

A firmly fastened skate is at all times a great advan-
tage, and is especially necessary when the hole in the
boot becomes large by wear, ai)d the screw loses its
hold. The difference between one hole and another
will thus sometimes prevent the strap being properly
tight

Although not in general use, there is a simple contri-
vance which remedies these inconveniences. It is the

Fig. 9. (Scale \ Linear.)

addition to the tail end of the heel strap (after it has
been placed in the skate) of another buckle. Tliis is
shown at Fig. 9, where it may be seen that the
usual buckle is simply used as a pulley, and the end
of the strap, after passing through it, is fastened to the
second buckle. By this means not only is double
strength obtained in pulling up the straps, but even as
little as ^in. of additional tightness may be obtained,
which cannot be done with straps as usually fastened.
This addition to the straps can be taken off or put on

Skalet and Stalmtf.

at any time; it consists of a double buckle, whiob can
be made by any saddler by connecting tn-b buckles, heel
to heel, and also placed opposite ways, i.e., with their
epikes opening on opposite sides. Those buckles are
connected by a short piece of leather having a loop on
each side. The use of this addition entails only about
l^in. of the extra length of the strap boing used, and,
of course, a few more holes may have to be punched, viz.,
to within about I2in, of the buckle end of the heel-straps.

Fig. 10, (Scale i Lineai.^j

Those who use this extra buckle do not require to s;row
the skate into the heel, but simply make the hole large
enough to slip the screw straight in.

They tlien have this further advantage, tliat not a
quarter the usual delay and trouble is required in
potting them on and off; for by fixing the buckles -vary

96 Skates and Skating.

loose (as shewn) they shuply insert the foot through
all the loops, and having slipped the spike into its hole,
pull the straps tight. The usual buckle of the heel-
strap now simply acts as a pulley, unless it is preferred
to use it in the usual way.

We have already alluded to the wear of the strap in
a particular place. Fast skaters especially are apt, at
times, to extend their feet so far that the toe strap is
pressed against the ice by the edge of the wood-work
or the sole of the boot, on the inner side (see figure 10,
page 95), and is thus worn very thin in that place.
A wire protection may be slipped ou the strap
BO as to cover this part. It is made by coiling some
steel wire, of about 18 to 17 guage, round a model of
the strap made a little larger than the stmp itself; the
coil is then tempered to a low spring color. This is
made from 1 to 1 ^in. long, as may seem suitable. A
little piece of copper wire bent round the strap in a
similar manner would, perhaps, servo the purpose. A
strip of tin (tinned iron) bent to fit and slipped over
the required place is also a remedy.

Ou reaching home after a day's skating most of the
dirt, ice, or water, should be rubbed off with a cloth or
duster, aud if the skates are placed near a warm fire,
the wet will soon evaporate, so that the iron will not
rust, but if left near the fire too long the straps would
become tco hard and dry. If the skates are left so
long at the fire as positivel}' to bake the straps, the latter
will be so injured that they will hardly last one season.

Shales and Skating, 97

The straps should be oiled every two or three days
while skating continues ; but it is better every night
after nse, having first wiped them fairly dry, to oil
them while still wet, and before putting them to dry ;
ihey will not then dry so quickly, but as the water
evaporates the oil will sink into the leather and keep it
soft;. At the end of the skating season, before putting
them away, another thorough good oiling, both to straps
and irons, will be required, Olive oil will do very well
and neat's-foot better, though Russian tallow is, pro-
bably, best of all. Unboiled mutton fat rubbed in (the
fat tail of a sheep as it comes from the butcher is a con-
venient instrument in the opinion of some people) will
also do. Any of these substances rubbed on the straps
will keep them in good order.

If any of our readers are fond of amateur work, they
will size (gum will do) and varnish the wood-work, and
even the blade, all over previously to laying their skates
by for the summer. If this is done the wood-work
will last an almost indefinite time ; otherwise, the var-
nish having rubbed oflF the wood, the moisture must, in
time, injure it. Though it seems more satisfactory to
preserve the straps in good condition, it is not abso-
lutely necessary to take the trouble we have suggested,
for, until the straps are actually broken they may
still be used. But with regard to sharpening the
skate irons when blunted by use, it becomes a
matter of necessity to have this done. If the edijes
of the blade never came in contact with any substance

H

98 Skates and Skating.

other than the ice they would not become blunt;
but stones are often thrown on and become
frozen in the ice ; sand also and earth are carried on bj
the wind or by people's boots ; these foreign substances
soon wear off, and also jag the sharp edges of the blade.
Minute notches made by flints taking little pieces of
steel right away do not signify much. Bagged pieces
of steel, which can be felt by the tip of the finger nail
when run down the edges of the blade, although greatly
impeding the skater, can easily be removed by a flat
hone, or even by a piece of tobacco-pipe stem rubbed
along the sides of the blade. But when the whole
length of the blade is rounded ofi* by wear the skater
finds, when he wishes to make a powerful stroke, that
his skate slips off the ice and (hat he cannot attain any
speed. The eye may not be able to detect this blunt-
ness, but when the edges of the blade are scraped over
the surface of the fingerruail they will be found unable
to remove any of the nail as they would do if sharp.
When this is the case, nothing but re-grinding will
make the skate again efficient. The manufacturers say
that skates requiring to be ground should always be
sent back to them, but this is practically impossible in
the middle of the skating: season. Tradesmen who deal
in skates will usually get them re-ground for their cus-
tomers, but the work is actually done by carpenters and
others who have lathes. There are many people wbo
undertake to grind skates, but there are few who can
do it well, and the charge of a shilling per pair which

SkcUes and Skating, 99

is made in country tovrns by the best workmen is not
too much.

A forked wrench-key, or driver, is used to unscrew
and take off the nut of the heel-screw. A. cheap one with a
=short handle as shown at fig. 8, Q, page 93, will serve the
purpose of a skater who wishes to unscrew the nuts himself.
Then by pressing the heel-screw down, or pulling the
'blade downward out of its groove sufficient play sideways
«can be given to the screw head to slip it free from the
blade, which can then be thrust forward so as to unhook
it from the toe-part of the wood. The blade thus de-
tached is placed in a wooden holder, which the skate-
grinders have for the purpose. When screwed up in
4ihis holder it can be held firmly hy the two hands of
*tlie grinder who, placing one of the flat sides of the
holder upon the ^'rest" of the lathe pushes the bottom
^surface of the skate blade up to the flat edge of the
revolving stone in a direct line towards its centre. The
blade is then moved from side to side until its whole
length is evenly ground. The grindstone ought not to
be less than Sin. in diameter, and the larger the better.
The manufacturers grind them on stones of much
greater diameter, so that there may be less hollo wness
^t the bottom of the blade. But a stone of more than
^bout lOin. diameter cannot be conveniently driven by
a foot-lathe. After taking the blade out of the holder
Provincial grinders, for the sake of giving the side ot
the blade a bright and finished appearance, are fond of
4,uueliing up the sides of the blade on the stone ; this

100 Skates and Skating,

should not be permitted as it is impossible for them ta
grind it exactly equal all along, and they are sure more
or less to destroy the evenness of this surface, the
straightness of which along its bottom cutting edges is
a most important thing. The grinders usually return
the skates exactly as they leave the grindstone. The
edges of the blade are then very sharp for cutting into
the ice, but are rough for sliding along its surface, and
it would take many hours of skating to wear off the
the roughness. Afler they are ground, the flat surface
of a hone should be rubbed carefully and gently along
the sides of the blade and even along the bottom ; the
edges will then be in the best possible condition for use.
The stem of tobacco pipe as previously mentioned, will
serve instead of the hone.

A skater who is very particular and has his skates^
ground to an especial curve, or who does not wish in
the season to lose a morning's skating, will do well
to take his skates direct to the man who grinds them
and thus make sure that they are well and promptly
done ; his presence when they are being ground may
perhaps be a check on a careless workman^ who would
otherwise let the irons get so hot on the stone as to
destroy the temper of the steel, and thus ruin the
skates.

Having thus given a few hints as to purchasing
skates, their management, and the best mode of fixing
them on, we approach the more difficult subject of
learning to skate.

Skates and Skating, 101

II-LEARNING TO SKATE.

Children whose ankles are weak will not be able to
learn much until they are eight or nine years of age ; but
even at six very strong children have pleasure in trying to
learn, and may be allowed to do so, if they have some
one to hold them by the hand. No one under thirty
need think himself too old to commence learning, from
this age to that of forty, falls are rather of course
mor6 serious, but the future pleasure will amply com-
pensate for present trouble ; indeed it is a matter of
astonishment to the experienced skater to hear from
learners, how much they enjoy, what to him seems only
a miserable struggle against difficulties. In one sense,
however, all are learners ; even in Friesland —where
more perhaps than in any country, there is a certainty
of skating long distances every winter — the inhabitants,
although commencing to skate very early in life are
said to continue improving up to thirty years of age.
Hence we may conclude that English people, if they
give attention to the art, will improve even to a still
later period of life.

We shall not attempt in the following remarks to
instruct a person who has not yet begun to learn. A
commencement must first be made by the learner
endeavouring to get along on the ice as best he can,
and either with, or without, the aid of a friend ; the
more he is held up, by one or more persons supporting
him by his arms, the fewer and less serious falls he will
have, but the slower he will learn. ^^ Nothing venture^ .

)'02 Skates and Skating,

nothing have" is very true in learning to skate. Some-
partially support themselves with a walking stick
having an iron point at its end, others by grasping the-
back of a chair which they push before them.

There is no " Koyal Road " on the ice, and we-
would rather draw a veil over these early scenes than
attempt to describe either the resulting tragedies or
comedies. People light in weight, strong, active and
enterprising, also strong children will often at the end
of the second day have so far progressed as to be able
to take some pleasure in the sport. The slowest to-
learn are those who are unenterprising and will not
abandon the aid of friends, or the support of the chair^
and those who are t^atisfied with just going cautiously
along without accidents and therefore attempt no further
improvements for fear of falling. Directly the learner
can go along without constant falls, he should pay some
attention to the manner in which other skaters move
and try in some degree to imitate them. He may per-
haps learn more from their example than from the-
advice they give, for it is not every good skater who has*
the ability to teach others, and the advice given to»
learners is often more misleading than helpful. A wise
teacher will carefully notice the fault which is most
obvious at the time, and seek to remedy that fault alone.
As from the nature of the case, we cannot here adopt
tliis system, we shall confine ourselves to mentioning
the most probable short comings. First then, we remark
that the ordinary learner does not press sufficiently

Skates and Skating, 103

sideways against the ice when he attempts to strike,
( the thrusting of the skate against the ice is always
termed " striking " ) but he usually kicks too much
backwards, and raises his heels as in running ; he does
not bring his body far enough over on the side opposite
that on which he has just struck, so as to rest his
weight and balance himself upon the skate upon which
he is for the time being gliding ; and when he replaces
his foot upon the ice, the toe is not turned sufBciently
inwards. To correct himself in these and other short
comings, we advise the beginner to attend to them one
by one, and on^y proceed to a second when he his fairly
master of the first. Let him bear in mind that his
muscles will in many cases be absolutely incapable of
accomplishing what he his aiming at, until they have
acquired more strength by use and exercise. And that
the left leg, from its weakness as compared with the
right, will probably be not up to its work for several
seasons.

At any time that the limbs are found to be very tired
or painful, it is best to rest until they have somewhat
recovered. The ability to guide and turn oneself,
strange as it may appear, is easily and almost intuitively
acquired, though this power depends on motions so
varied and complicated as hardly to admit of description.

We will now suppose that our skater has so far
improved in going that if he is living in a large town,
for instance London, he and his companions are satisfied
with his success. Most people remain foi the rest of

104 Skates and Skating*

their lives at this stage of progress, however expert
they may afterwards become in figure skating, for the
amount of skill they have acquired is sufficient to give
them pleasure in going, to enable them to travel across
small ice fields without fear of falling, and to keep
themselves warm by exercise. They msiy be said to
have about half learned to skate, though this statement
may need a word or two of explanation. Skating is
almost as different from running, as swimming is from
jumping. But in learning to swim there is no transition
from the movements of jumping to the movements of
swimming, whereas in learning to skate, the running
movements are gradually transformed into the skating
movements, and at any period of this transition the so
called skater may leave off attempting to improve, and
so settle down to a sort of hybrid action, by courtesy
called skating, though a hen might as well be said to fly
when she runs along flapping her wings to aid her legs.
At this stage the learner kicks up his heels after the
metliod of a runner, though perhaps to an extent of not
more than half, when in fact he should not raise them at
all, and similarly with many of his other movements.

The following hints and remarks will be to a great
extent amplifications of the statements already made,
and are given with a view to aid those who are not
satisfied with a method of progression which we can
only call semi-skating. Instead of the toe being allowed
to scratch the ice when the heel is in the air, both toe
and heel should leave the ice at about the same time*

Skates and Skaiitig, 105

And at the slow pace of a beginner, the toe of the pro-
pelling leg when it leaves the ice should not be far (aay
six inches) behind the toe of the other foot although it
will of course be a considerable distance from it sideways.
In bringing the leg, which has just left the ice, back
again towards the body, the instinctive habit of raising
the heels as in walking or running, must be carefully
overcome by holding the blade of the skate so that its
whole length would scrape along the surface of the
ice, were it not raided about an inch above it. Before
being again put down on the ice it should be brought
close alongside the other foot, so that the two ankles
nearly touch. If instead of this it has to be dashed
down when it is a considerable distance, say six inches,
sideways from the other skate, it is either because the
body is not well balanced upon the other leg, or because
the skater is unduly afraid of losing his balance.

The fewer strokes that are made per minute the
better, as increased speed should be chiefly obtained by
extra length of run, produced by greater force of stroke.
Many boys who at 12 or 13 years of age go very nicely
and give promise of being first rate skaters, take to
racing with other people and from that time deteriorate
rather than improve.

It may now assist the learner to turn his attention to
the fact tliat the blade of his skate, as seen from behind
has two edges. One of these edges is on the
outer side of his foot, and one on the inner
side. The outer edge should be used for one purpose.

106 Shates and ShoOing,

and the inner edge for another purpose. The outer
edge is the one on which the skater should glide. The
inner edge is the one he shonld press against the ioe
when he strikes.

It is true that without knowing or thinking about
this he might by practice^ so improve his skating that
he would unconsciously use each edge of his skate in the
proper manner, but he would still be ignorant of the
cause of this improvement, and therefore probably fail
in making further progress. When correctly used the
outer and inner edges of the skate-blade are equally
blunted by wear. Inexperienced skaters, however,
always blunt their inner edges first, and to remedy this
they from time to time change the side on which they
place their skates.

Swinging the arms. — The correct swing of the arms is
an aid lo the skater even when going at a moderate speed,
and there can be no really fast skating without it. It
18 therefore needful that the proper swing of the arms
should be learned by all. Both the arms should be
swung from side to side like two pendulums going
simultaneously^ they must keep time with the stroke
of the legs and be swung to the side opposite to the
striking leg, as if for the purpose of balancing its
weight. Care must be taken not to fall into the habit
of swinging the arm behind the back instead of round
the chest.

It is impossible to specify how far forward the body
should lean, but the greater the speed the more the

Slates and Sharing. 107

skater stoops. As he glides along snpported on one
leg, the ankle, knee and hip are bent, and thus his body
is carried low, so as to allow of a more extended stroke
when the time arrives for it to be made.

The pictures £;ivcn in this book to show the attitudes
of skaters goin^ fast, of course will not serve as exact
models for one who is learning to skate. These attitudes
will however, serve to illustrate the movements
assumed at moderate speed, being strictly analogous
fo these latter motions though carried out in an
exaggerated form.

Stopping, — The best method in case of sudden immer-

gencies, is for the skater to place both his skates level

and parallel, and then raise his toes, and run upon the

heels of his skates, at the same time arching his back,

and leaning fomvard so as not to lose his balance. The

eharp ends of the heels digging into the ice soon bring

him to a standstill. This method is however, very trying

to the ankles, and spoils the ice. Keeping both skates

on the ice, and turning both of the toes inwards so as to

present the outside cutting edges somewhat broadside

to the ice, is now generally adopted as a better method

of stopping, though not so immediate in its effects.

Some skilful skaters prefer stopping themselves by
keeping botli irons parallel to each other, but presenting
iSiiem both somewhat sideways to the line of motion.

There is a common but erroneous idea that few skaters
enjoy nothing but continuous and violent attempts to go
as fast as possible, and that there can be no art or skill

108 Skates and Skating.

displayed in skating slowlj. But the truth is, that a
good running skater, even in his slowest and most
deliberate movements displays, to an attentive observer,
extreme skill, and exhibits by the ease, certainty, and
precision of his motions, the same superiority over those
who are unskilled, as he would do, were he going at the
rate of fifteen miles an hour. As compared with those
who ])ractice figure skating only, he has the superiority
in that he can make his way through a crowd more
safely, either slowly or fast, can avoid obstacles, cracks
in the ice, &c., can stop and start more quickly, and can
even jump over impediments, and all this without noise,
violence^ or jerks of his body. To use a comparison
which will be understood by all horsemen, a good
running skater may, for general pnrposes of going, be
compared to a well-trained hunter as contrasted with a
raw horse which rushes at his fences. An art which
renders a man of fifty to sixty years of age more than
a match for an athletic young man who is not quite so
skilful, may well excite admiration ; and as this book
will be read by many enthusiastic admirers of the sport,
we must not leave this subject without at least making
an attempt to give a more or less exact description of the
motions of a good skater when going fast. We are the
more desirous that this branch of the subject should not
be altogether neglected, as we believe that when the
theory of skating is well understood by intelligent
readers, there will be throughout the country, a general
improvement in skating. It is usually supposed that

Skates and Shating, 109

ordinarj people can hardly expect to become first-class
skaters, unless they learn in company ^ith ihose ^ho
are very proficient, and have constant opportunity of
ivatching and imitating them ; this we do not believe,
but on the contrary think that anyone who cares sufH-
eiently about it, may by practice continue to improve to
an indefinite extent, if he can once get an accurate
idea of the peculiar motions required.

We have repeatedly noticed that an hour's instruction
given to a youth, will render him so superior to his
companions as to be a matter of surprise, both to them
and to himself. Let us therefore consider,

IIL— THE THEORY OF SKATING.

In these days of champion races, every observer
likes to maintain his own opinion upon the styles of the
various racers, and it is therefore well that some defi-
niteness should be given to a matter which is the subject
of general conversation. As we shall be making an
attempt hitherto avoided by writers, owing to its diffi-
culty and complexity, we must beg the kind indulgence
of our readers, and we on our part, will in return
suggest that they have full liberty to omit reading this
part, should they come to the conclusion that we either
fail to understand the matter, or have not skill to make
ourselves understood.

We all have a general idea of how a skater goes, but
it requires close attention to his movements to under-
stand the exact method he adopts, and to understand

Skatet and SlattMff.

SkaUa and Skating. Ill

112 Skates and Skating,

how th e varied movements of the limbs and body combine
to prod uee the result. The marks or scratches left on
the ice by the sharp edge of the skate blade will however,
afford a clue for understanding these movements. On
closely examining the marks made on the ice by a good
skater, it will be seen that each mark is chieflvmade by
either the outer or inner edge of the blade, and but
little of it by the flat under-surface.

A little consideration will show that this must neces-
sarily be the case, while any guidance or propulsion is
being given by that skate, for how could motion or
guidance be obtained on so slippery a surface as that of
ice, if the iron did not cut into it ? And the under
surface of the blade being flat, how could the whole
width of the iron sink deep enough into so hard a
material? The black lines in the diagram, figure 13,
page 113, are typical representations of the marks on the
ice, made by a skater while going at a high speed.

We also give at figs. 11 & 1 2 pages 11 & 111 , a series
of twelve views of a man skating fast, and as he would be
seen by an observer to whom he was approaching in a
direct line. Irom 1 to 12 they follow in consecutive
order, and as far as so limited a number as twelve views
can do it, they exhibit the whole round of movements, so
that No. 1 again comes after No. 12, thus serving
instead of No. 13, which would have been similar to it.
This series of views has been tried in the French
Zoetrope, or whe*^! of life, called the Praxinoscope, and
when so seen, fairly represents the motions of a skater.

Skates and Skating,

L13

The diagram tkg, 13,
contains dots having
numbersplaced near them.
These dots indicate the
place of the man's body
with reference to the ice-
marks, and the pictures
of the man are supposed
to be drawn at the exact
time when his body was
at that place. Thus,
opposite dot 2, the posi-
tion of the left foot is
indicated, and at that
instant the other foot is
somewhat beliind. By
turning to picture 2, we
see the attitude of the
man at that moment,
and every other dot

corresponds to a picture
with a similar number.

To illustrate more fully

the attitude of the skater,
at time 2 we also give a
side view of him at fig.
14, page 115.
Fig. 13. (Scale 1-50 Linear.) The following analysis

the ice*marfi:, and the descriptions of the motions will

I

of

114 Skates and Skating.

be best understood by continued reference to the
various attitudes of the skater.

In Fig. 13, page 1 13, one of the strokes, viz : that made
by the left skate, is divided into three portions, I, II and
III to indicate the three various positions and actions
which the skate assumes. As indicated by the firm part
of the line being on the outer side and the dotted part
on the inner side, L is made by the outer cutting edge of
the blade ; II. is made by the blade as it rolls over
from the outer to the inner edge including the slight
mark which it makes when on the flat of the bottom ;
III. is made by the inner edge. During the
period when I. is being made, the leg or the skate
which makes it might be said to act as a ^* rudder "
to the body of the skater. During II, it acts as a
^' supporter y'* and during III. it acts as a ^^ pro-
peller.'''^ But during I. when the left leg is acting
as a rudder, the right leg is in its 3rd stage, viz., acting
as a propeller ; so that whenever these two skates are
together on the ice they must be thought of as acting in
combination. During the period 11. , while the left leg
is alone sustaining the body its line of motion is
almost directly forward, and at this period the right
leg is being drawn back to the centre line above
the surface of the ice, and of course making no mark.
During time III. both skates are again acting in com-
bination, but the left skate has now become a propeller,
and the right skate in its turn has become the rudder.
But although during the periods I. II. and IIL, the left

Siatet and SlxUittg.

skate produces three dlstincit effects npoo the ice aad
upon the skater's body, there is no sudden change in the
movemeut of the limb, its action consiBting of one pro-
longed, continuous and increasingly powerful extension
by means of its various joints.

From the last part of the scratch (HI.) we can arrive
at the direction of the line of thrust in which the stroke
is delivered, in relation to the skater's body. Each skate

Fig. u.
'during the whole time it is on the ice is slipping for-
ward over the surface, so that it is impossible for there
to be any direct backward pressure of the foot as in
walking.

But it will be observed that towards the end of each
stroke the scratch runs obliquely away from the centre
line of the course. It is at this period that tlie skater by
j)ressing the bUde strongly against the ice in an oblique

116 Skates and Skating,

direction propels his body from it Towards the end of
the scratch its course diverges more and more from the
centre line, and the speed of that skate over the
ice gradually decreases.

Under these conditions it is a sideways kick alone, or
one partly sideways which can produce onward motion,
but as the stroke approaches completion it is less and less
sideways. In swimming it is only an horizontal back-
ward kick that can produce forward motion, and to
allow of such a stroke being thus delivered the spine or
axis of the loin has to be laid horizontal! v in the water.
For a man can only kick with the sole of his foot by
extending the joints of the hip and the knee, and this
can only be done with full effect, exactly in the direction
to which the spine of the back or rather the axis of the
loin points. In skating, for the same reason, the body
must be inclined sideways to allow of the leg striking in
the opposite sideways direction, but as the relative posi-
tion of the body, and the skate is continually changing,
the skate becoming more and more behind the body and
further from it sideways, the body must be continually
adapting its inclination to suit the direction of the thrust*

It is a fact well known that ease and speed in skating
far more depend upon the skill than upon the strength
of the skater. And it will not be a matter of surprise
that the dexterity and effort of the skater have to be
chiefly directed to those points which at first sight seem
secondary matters. Thus it is of vital importance that
the sharp edges of the blade should be presented to the

Skates and ShUing. 117

ice at precisely the proper angle. At the period repre-
sented at I^ fig. 13, page 113, or of the illustrations No.
1 and 2 at page 110, and at the time of the dots No. 1
and 2), for these are equally referred to when the numbers
are given), the left leg is acting as a rudder in the man-
ner previously described. To enable it to efiect the
guidance of the body, the skate iron has to obtain the
requisite **bite" of the ice. This is obtained by the
inner edge of the blade being held so as to cut a small
groove in the ice. Also during the time the stroke is
being made (III and No. 6 and 1) the skate, having
rolled over on to its inner edge, cuts a similar groove
for the purpose of obtaining a resistance to the propelling
effort. These grooves are very minute but cutting them,
even to the depth of one-fiftieth or one-hundreth of an
inch, must lead to some loss of speed ; this, however, is
compensated for by the fact of there being a very much
smaller surface of iron rubbing against the ice. Even
at the greater depth mentioned, only one-fifteenth of the
amount of steel touches the ice compared with the whole
bottom surface of the blade.

The diagram at Fig. 15, page 118, shows the
end views of a skate when held at various degrees
of inclination ; and on the left hand are the
corresponding sections of the groove in the ice with
the edges of the blade shown as making them. These
latter are of course on a very enlarged scale. At E th«
skate is represented when held at an angle of 45 degree,
and in this case the least possible surface of steel touches

118 Skates and Skating.

the ice and (at any given depth) the least amount of ice
has to be cut away. But owing to the position of the
foot and leg, this angle cannot be attained on the outer
side, and only on the inner side when the leg and foot
are inclined as shown at Fig. 16, page 119. A Fig. 15

/ E

45

Fig. IS.

represents as much inclination as could possibly be given
lo the skate when on its outer edge. If it were 30 degrees
as at 6^ the surface exposed to friction would be slightly
more than at E. But if the skate is only inclined 15

Statea and Siatinff,

degrees as at C, the surface of steel touohinj; the ice would
be fully half as much more tlian when in position A, To
give the skate the requisite inclination at the time No. 1
and 2, pages 110 and 111, every espe<]ient has to be
adopted by the nkater. The sideway ankle morement
partly accomplishes this| but it is chiefly done by the
sideway incIiQation of the whole leg and body ; bat this is
not effected by letting the body fall sideways from the

Fig. i6. (Scale J Linear.)

centre line of the course. It is attained by allowing
the tegs to slip away outwards, as in pictures No. 5 and
6, the body still continuing in the central line. To com-
pensate for this sideway transference of weight, the arms
are swung to the opposite side, (Bee T^os. 4, 5 and 6).

The movement of the arms plays an important though
complicated part in the motions of tbe skater. Their

SlMlti attd Skating.

118

A „tlA the least amount of ice
to ic, and (.i "y «.-/:*>; the p.«o„ of *«
ha. to be out aw.y. But own ^^_^ ^^^,

foot .„d leg, .hi. '"Si" cannot to ;^';t ^__| ^^^
*, and only on the ,nner .* «h» .^^ | ^,.^ ^^
are inchned a. »hown at 1 ig. to, P"o

represents as mncl
'o thu skate -when

as at B, tlic i-iii*"

more ttia« ^ '

Skalm aitd Siatimp. i

defrrees as at C, the sar^ce of steel toaelnns'uw ^'"'' nid
be fally half aBinucb more tlutn when in noBat jc (ajn

give the skate the requisite incliiutkm at tnnJ-p ,)ti is

and 2, pages 110 and 111, everr -euoans' ' L-uurse

adopted by the «>kater. Tlie EideKr- ai v *-- , of the
partly accomplishes this, but it i.- tar-r ■ a\i\ have

aideway inclination of the whole it^xuun therefore

not effected by letting tlie bocT tui«»»- .responding
i2. During
brought up to
increasing bend
I increasing, but
y brings the outer
; ice at 1. From
already falling, both
2 it is at its lowest
tlie skater when in this
age 115. The sideway drop
^^^__ le suspended foot to the ice,
leg running away outwards
* 10 forward fall or drop of the

uending of the ankle, knee, and
op of the back. The form of the
ight of the boot at the heel, enables
.' to be thrown still more forward.
jen the height of the skater's heel and
xi fig. 4, A, page 86, where the heel of
^ liin. higher thanthe ' "'he

i' dropping the body is

120 Skates and Skating,

swing is so extensive that the outer one is sometimes
raised even above the horizontal line and thrown back-
wards nearly 45 degrees from the plane of the chest.
Neither of the arms are stopped by any muscular effort
but the outer one flies back as far as its impetus carries
it, and the inner one wraps itself round the chest. (See
No. 6). From the elbows downwards the muscles of
the arms are relaxed, so that the hands are left open or
only partially closed.

It needs an instantaneous photograph of a skater
in full career to settle the point, but we believe
that the arms reach the end of their swing and com-
mence falling again before the propulsion of the opposite
leg is completed and our zeotrope pictures are so
represented. If this is the case, the arms, having been
moving as above described, begin to fall again (see 1)
so that when the stroke of the opposite leg is being made
(I and 2) they are at their lowest position. They
thus aid the other limbs in the effort to lower the centre
of gravity, which will be described further on. After
the thrust is completed, the arms continuing to move in
the same direction are swung to the other side, and
(at 4, 5 and 6) transfer their weight to the right
side of the skater, while his feet are allowed to slip away
to the left side as previously described.

Leaving the subject of the arms, we revert to the
movements of the legs in order to give a more detailed
description of how the guidance, support oiA propulsion
are effected at succeeding periods (I., II., and III., fig.

Skates and Skating, 121

13, page 113). We proceed to describe the whole round
of movements of the left leg, commencing at a certain
definite situation and following it until that situation is
again reached. A similar description would of course
apply to the right leg. The time of suspension of the
left leg is not indicated in the diagram, but would have
preceded I,, or succeeded III., and would therefore
have been IV., and the dots or pictures corresponding
would have been 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. During
this period of suspension the leg is being brought up to
the centre of the course with a slight but increasing bend
of the knee. At 1 this bend is still increasing, but
in spite of this the drop of the body brings the outer
edge of the skate blade to the ice at 1. From
12 to 1, the body has been already falling, both
sideways and forward, and at 2 it is at its lowest
position. A sideway view of the skater when in this
attitude, is given at Rg. 14, page 115. The sideway drop
of the body which brings the suspended foot to the ice,
results from the striking leg running away outwards
from the central line. The forward fall or drop of the
body is produced by the bending of the ankle, knee, and
hip-joint, and by the stoop of the back. The form of the
skate itself, and the height of the boot at the heel, enables
the body of the skater to be thrown still more forward.
This difference between the height of the skater's heel and
sole may been seen at fig. 4, A, page 86, where the heel of
the foot is shown as IJin. higher than the front part of the
foot. The object of dropping the body is to bring the centre

122 Skates arid Skating,

of gravity as low down, and also as forward as possible, so
as to be more in the line of the thrust of the striking leg,
but it has the incidental advantage of presenting less sur-
face to the resistance of the air. The left leg, the movements
of which we continue to describe, is now (see picture 1)
ready to receive a part of weight of the body and for a little
time it continues running on the ice, parallel with the
other skate. Having received its due proportion of
weight, it commences to press (but not to run)
outwards and sideways against the ice, and so
acts as a rudder to the body which would other-
wise be driven by the thrust of the right leg, out
of its course towards the left side. The stroke
of the right leg being finished, the body commences
(3, 4, 5, 6,) to resume its more erect position ; for
the cramped position of the joints at 2 could not be
long sustained. The body not only rises again through
stooping less forward, but also through the left leg
continuing to move towards the central line of the course,
and thus running under the body, and so raising it.
In doing this, it rolls over from the outer edge on to
the flat under-surface of the skate-blade (4), and
thence on to its outer edge, as the foot runs still more
towards its own side of the course (5 and 6). The
left leg, then (7), commences to strike, for the right leg
is ready to act in combination with it though pushing
in the opposite direction.

The muscles by which the guiding skate (the
left skate at 1, 2 and 3), is pressed sideways

Skates and Skating, 123

against the ice, chiefly produce the guiding force, and
perhaps the first part of the propelling force. But,
during the middle and latter pari of the stroke (7 and
S), the knee and hip joints are straightened, and at
the conclusion of the stroke, the extension of the ankle
joint is of especial service. During the whole of the
stroke, the face, chest, and whole plain of the body are
being twisted towards the side to which the leg is striking,
as seen at picture 8, page 111, and in the
reversed position at fig. 14, page 115. The leg and ankle
are also twisted as much as they can be, and the whole
together, enables the toe to dwell upon the ice until the
last moment. It is finally drawn away from the ice by
the onward motion of the body, and the skate flies
upwards (as seen in picture 9) and then imme-
diately commences its return to the central line, the toe
beginning to turn inwards again. Of course, at 11
the left or suspended leg could immediately be lowered
again to the surface of the ice, but the flat of the blade,
and not the outer edge, would then touch the ice. It is
only the confidence inspired by practice and skill which
enables the skater to refrain from placing his skate down
upon the ice too soon, for when he feels his body falling
sideways, he is tempted to dash his skate down, instead of
delaying the matter until the outside edge can he
presented to the ice in the most favourable position. There
is no real danger of thus falling sideways, for the forward
motion of the body allows the supporting leg to run
underneath the body, in the same way as a Bicyclist

124 Skates and Skating,

when falling on one side, saves himself by turning his
wheel so as to run under his centre of gravity again.

Having thus followed the left leg through the whole
round of its movements^ we conclude this theoretical
branch of the subject which we, and doubtless our
readers, have found as difficult and tedious mentally as
the more practical task of physically learning to skate.

We believe any well made man may become a good
skater, although not perhaps a winner of races. They say
good horses run in all shapes, and it may be so with skaters.
Men, with symmetrically turned limbs, skate the most
elegantly, that is, with least exertion. But men of
sturdy build, with broad and long bodies, short and
strong limbs, are the most enduring. The former are
fitted for races of about one mile, the latter for about
double the distance. A modern runner, who is second
to few, presents the latter shape. A combination of
these forms is very desirable for making a first rate
skater. There must of course, be no deficiency of
muscle in the thighs or calves. The style of each runner
has generally some speciality, but the foregoing descrip-
tion of skating, being general in its terms, would apply
to all good "goers." Most men go with rounded backs,
but there are now two well known runners who skate
with a hollow back which jerks at each stroke.
One runner who is in fair repute, clenches his hands when
going. Another, of much greater speed, kicks up his
heels exceptionally high. The most msurked exception
to our description is a very well knovm runner who.

Skata and Skating.

instead of Bwinging his arm across his chest, thrusts
the hands rather forward, and seems to check both his
arms at a certain point, instead of letting them awing
free from the elbow. This is quite a novelty, and even
in his case, this habit is wearing off with practice. In
spite of there being small individual peculiarities in the
style of each man, the action of all fast skaters is very
simlEar. Still, there seems to be two distinct styles of
going. One suited to men of exceptional activity and
wind, and best adapted for races of one mile, or one mile
and a half; the other style is more dependent upon ex-
treme skill, by means of which, power is much econo-
mised ; it is therefore more adapted for races of two
miles.

Skaters who go in the first-mentioned style, inclined
their bodies less, do not take quite so wide a stroke, and
place the foot more quickly upon the ice when it reaches
the centre line, on its leturu through the air after
making its thrust.

Siattt and Skating.

IV.— ATTENTION TO SKATING GROUNDS
Baring skating time there is genar&lly in the neigh-
bourhood of towns a plentiful supply of meu with chairs,
who earn monej by fastening on skates. These mea
are as a rnle, little better than the dregs of the working
class, and skaters should be careful to employ only such
of them as behave decently, otherwise, unlnas the owner
of the skating field, or some one In authority, controls
them, the whole scene, instead of being one of pleasure,
becomes such as ladies and respectable people wilt avoid.
The '•selection of the fittest," which we have recom-
mended, obviates this danger. When however, aiiow
falls upon the ice, some united action among the
men becomes needful for the purpose of sweeping.
Without this it frequently happens that the enjoymeut
of many hundreds of skaters is interfered with, and perhaps

Skat^ and Skating, 127

entirely 8top)}ed. We have counted at about eleven
o'clock p.m. upon the skating field thirty able-bodied
men with chairs ; of these only about ten could possibly
be employed at any one time, the rest remaining idle,
and not a single man was sweeping. I I Yet, the ice
was so covered with snow that the skaters, after remain-
ing twenty minutes or so, one by one left for home. If
only two or three of the men had employed themselves
sweeping a course upon the ice, the whole of the skaters
might have enjoyed themselves during the remainder of
the day. Besults of this kind would be prevented, if
skaters upon their arrival; when importuned to take a
chair, would inquire ^' Is there a company who are
having the ice svvept ?" and would make a point of
patronizing such a company when it was formed, as it
would be sure to be soon, as a *' supply " in answer
to the *^ demand."

Such a company should consist of four, or better of a
larger number of men, w*ho making a common money-
bag, depute some of their number to be always sweeping
while the remainder put on skates, changing about from
time to time to rest the sweepers. They should have a
lock-up money-box, into which all earnings are slipped ;
at the end of the day the box is opened and an equal
division made of the contents. They should not beg
about on the course for money, but trust to being paid
by those who use their chairs and have their skates
attended to, or leave their cloaks and overcoats, &c., for
safe keeping. This is no ideal scheme, but is successfully

128 SkcUes and Skating.

■v

and, for the men, profitably carried out in well-known
skating districts. The following suggestions are made
for those gentlemen who have enough public spirit to
superintend and arrange the sweeping of skating courses.
Such men as we have been describing require and will
be afterwards grateful for suggestions from any skater
competent to direct and advise them. We say compe-
tent, for the choice of a proper course is a matter re-
quiring some judgment and examination. Running

skaters prefer a straight course from one end of the field
to the other, and turning at the end to go back by a
second course parallel with it. As people like to skate
in company, and near together, and to watch others, it
will generally be found that providing the. swept course
be well laid out and well attended to, the fact of not
being able to skate over the rest of the field, will, except
for hockey-players, increase rather than diminish the
pleasure of the sport.

To plan a course, — first skate once or twice up and

Skates and Skating,

129

down the ground in the direction which seems most
suitable, avoiding a line which crosses bad pieces of ice^
and select some distant object at each end as land marks
for the line of the course, then take a brush, or shovel,
or short broom, and pushing it straight for the distant
object mark the course as straight as it can be planned,
turn at the end and come back again parallel with
the first line, and at about 12ft. from it. These lines
being joined at the two ends guide the sweepers, who
sweeping the snow away right and left, gradually widen

f * un» i

•aiu%

in

tlti*'/'

the course. If it be widened to an StL course, a space of
4ft. will be left between the two courses where the snow
is heaped up and will form a good division. It should
be borne in mind that the majority of skaters do not like
a very long course even if it can be obtained ; 300 yards
is quite long enough, and 200 or even 1 50 yards makes
a very good course for ladies or people in general. The
width should never be less than 6ft., as a fast skater
would actually require this width for his stroke, 7ft. is a

J

130 Skates and Skating,

narrow course, but will just allow of passing, 8ft. is a
good course, and would afford enjoyment if all were
skilful skaters. But to allow of two going side-by-side
and another passing them, 9fl. is required. If the course
be crowded with people 10ft. to llfV. is desirable. These
widths are given on the supposition that all the skaters
are going in the same direction. It is most important
for the pleasure and safety of all, that every one should
go the right way round, and should both keep and also
pass on the proper side. At fig, 17, page 131, we give a
diagram showing the proper method of skating on a con-
fined course, (for convenience the coarse is shown very
much shorter than it would be in reality). The arrows
indicate the skaters and the direction in which they move*
To make it evident to the mind that the ordinary rule
for walkers applies to the skating -course, imagining for a
moment that the centre line of snow is removed — then the
rule of the skating-field will be seen to be exactly the same
as the rule of the foot-path. Everyone keeps to his own
right-hand side. And if one person desires to pass
another, he turns out towards the lefb for that purpose.
Going up and down the parallel courses divided by the
centre line may be fairly expressed as going round, and
in this sense all the skaters go the same way round, all
turning towards their left hand ; thus going against ^' the
wind, the clock and the sun." This way round happens
to be most suitable for the turn in skating, as nineteen
skaters out of twenty have a marked preference for turning
to the lefl, the right side of the body being almost always

Skaie$ and Skating.

131

the stronger. By thus following our national rule of the
foot path, it will be observed that all the faster skaters,
wishing to pass the slower ones, will keep rather towards

the left hand, that is towards the
inside of the course and next the
centre division line; while the
slower ones will '^ hug " their
right hand side, that is, the
outer side of the circle. Pas-
sing ladies with long skirts is
attended with danger to them
and others, but they can them-
selves much lessen this danger by
wearing a suitable dress. It should
be a short walking dress, for if the
skirt reaches very near to the ice
it is almost impossible for the
other skaters to avoid catching
their skates in it. The arrows in
fig. 17, are intended to indicate
not only the direction in which
the skaters move but also their
size and speed. Thus D. J. and
K. are supposed to be children,
who, desiring to avoid all chance
of collision, keep entirely to the
right as also do some adults, L

andQ. But A. B. F. L. M. N. 0. and R, as indicated
by the number of feather-strokes, desire to go faster

132 Skates and Skating,

and some of these as F. L. R. keep all the time to the
left having no one coming close behind who might desire
to pass them. But the remainder A. B. M. N. and 0.,
even if turning out to pass some one in front, imme-
diately revert to the proper side because others are near
behind them. When fast skaters, as G. and H., go in
company side-by-side, thoy occupy more than their fair
share of the course, and it is their duty to be especially
particular not to go too much to their left.

We have thus shown under what conditions a last
skater may go on the left side of the course, but the
general rule is simple enough — every one keeping to their
right side unless when they are actually passing others.
If people can only be induced to ob8er\"e this well-known
rule much danger and inconvenience will be avoided,
and surely those who have made the course, or paid
for it, have a right to insist that it should not be
rendered almost useless as would otherwise be the case.
But beyond these rules there will amongst gentlemen be
various courteous observances of which the following
may be cited.

Everyone must have the liberty to go as fast or as
slowly as they please, and those who habitually go faster
or slower than others give rise to no unpleasantness
But it is an ungentleman-like action to put on a spurt
and pass others for the sake of ostentation, and then stop
oi* relapse at once into a slower pace ; for all attempt at
competition, except by mutual consent, is an imperti-
nsnce. Slipping in front of another skater, in the

Skates and Skating, 133

manner we have described, is peculiarly rude and un-
grateful, if done after skating behind him for some
length of time, because in that case the first skater has
been doing all the hard work by meeting the air and
forming an incline in the ice, and thus affordmg rest to
the one behind him. To keep in close attendance, imme-
diately behind another skater for any length of time,
should only be done with his tacit consent^ and if he
slackens his pace or pauses at the next turn, or replies
coldly to any remark that may be made, it will be evident
that he desires to give no warrant for skating with him.

To return to the duties of the course-keeper. When
sweeping the course, it is best for him to keep steadily
on at his work, leaving the skaters who pass him, to
avoid the stroke of his broom. After the course has been
swept, there will be more to be done in improving the
turnings and widening in places, and in sweeping off
any twigs, rushes, pieces of orange peel, &c., that may
be about.

The strokes of the skates will always be cutting
the ice into a fine powder, which, if not swept off, con-
ceals the cracks, and renders them dangerous. When
a crack has been worn dangerously wide, or when there
is a hole right through the ice, it may be made more
conspicuous by placing a small bough in it. It may
even be needful to divert the course, if any part has
become very bad.

If a company of sweepers have made a course, they
should be supported in retaining the right to keep it the

134 Skates arid Skating,

next day, but if thej neglect to do all that is needful^
it becomes necessary that others should supplant them.
If, before courses are svvept, the half-melted snow has
become frozen, the sweepers' work is immensely in-
creased, and the same is the case if the snow be two or
three inches deep, a skater going up and down with a
sharp-edged spade or shovel will often be able to cut off
the frozen snow, so that the broom can easily remove it.
In some neighbourhoods where skating is much prac-
tised, a snow-plough of the kind used on the roads, but
smaller, is kept to make skating courses through deep
snow. It is a wedge-shaped wooden frame like the
letter A, with iron hooping nailed along the bottom,
and when dragged along effectually scrapes off and
pushes aside the snow, leaving a clear course some 8
feet io width. It is constructed by joining at one end
two 1-inch boards, (each 7inches deep, and lO^feet long),
at such an angle as to have their ends 8 feet apart ; a
cross-stay 5 feet long is placed between them, this of
course does not touch the ice. Iron-hooping, or better
still, 1-8 of an inch iron plates are fastened all along
the outside edges, and projecting below the wood about
l-4inch. No nicety of construction is needed, and tho
whole need not cost more than 10/. As shown in the
illustration, page 126, one man guides it from behind
by means of a rope tied through a hole in each of the
hinder-ends ; and several men pull it by a rope similarly
fastened to a hole in the front. If there is not weight
enough to cut off the hard snow, a boy sits on it

Skates and Skating, 135

With the requisite number of men, an excellent
course can be made with this instrument in the course
of a quarter of an hour. A smaller one with handles
to push along, and capable of clearing about four feet
in width, might easily be contrived. Providing the
snow were not more than two inches deep, on coming
back again the skater might increase the width of the
tracts first cleared, so as to provide a fairly wide course.

People of means, who are desirous of encouraging
the sport of skating, would do well to bear in mind that
some acknowledgment, either by word of mouth, or a
small testimonial, or a more substantial recompense,
should be made to the owner of the field who has allowed
the public to make use of the ice, for it is probable that
he will have been put to inconvenience, and perhaps
more or less loss, through gates being left open, and
gaps made in the hedges. Through neglect of these
acts of courtesy and gratitude, many pieces of water
are allowed to run oflF, when perhaps, even a few words
of thanks might have indnced the owner to put up with
the carelessness and rudeness of those skaters who show
no such gratitude.

Chairs are always found to be a great convenience
for ladies and others who are tired with the exertion of
skating. A sledge chair, in which they can sit and be
pushed from place to place, without danger of being
overturned, adds much to their pleasure. Figure 18
represents a skating chair of this kind. It is so con-
structed that the movements of the skater who pushes it.

SiaUt atid Sk<Uinp.

are not interfered with. By simply unfastening a
thumb-screw, it can be folded up ^See Figure 19,) so
that although somewhtit heavy, being about twenty-five
lbs. in weight, it can be carried in one hand by a man,
and can conveniently be placed under theseatofadog-
cart, or stowed away when not required. When spow

is on the ground, it can be pulled along by a cord
with the smallest effort"

* The Pictures given, and ibe following details will enable any inlel-
ligenl carpenter to conslmct a deal chair of this kind. The rollowing
measurementa are io inches. From side to side all parts are 14^ itKhes.
Seat 14} by 15 by 5-8, strengthened underneath. Legs 15 by l^
by li, edges taken off. Side poles 50 by rjbylj, edges taken off,
morticed into the back, nhich is cut from a piece 35 by 3 7-8 by i-j-S.

Shitea and Skating,

Although the thickness nf ice required for sbatiug
is referred to in another place, we must here point out
the especial danger of crowded skating grounds. When
many people are seen to be skating about, and conti-
nuous cracking is not heard, we may conclude that the
ice ia more than 2^ inch thick, and is perfectly safe.
If it is thicker than this there is some truth in the saying
that " ice which cracks never breaks'" For, when
ice is more than a certain thickness, mere numbers of
people howerer thick they may ttand, never lead to
danger, except when the ice has already been cracked

Fir. 19.
in all directions, and already consists of triangular
pieces, although apparently whole. When in the latter

These poles ore connected to the wooden nmners by tt 5-16 round iron
lod with head and nnt, and placed about 17 in fnint of the seat, and
so that ihe handles are 14 above, and 5 behind the seat. The cross-
piece, at Ihe middle of the poles, rests on little brackets placed on tbe
front legs, and it has a screw hole through it, by which it is screwed to

138 Skates and Skating.

state the slightest thaw, by acting on the Adges, rapidly
inoreases the width of the cracks, and thus separates
the pieces of ice, so that the whole surface is ready to
give way without any sound of warning, if many
people crowd together, or if a company of several heavy
men going fast, cause waves to be formed on the ice.
At the close of a skating day, when it does not freeze,
or when, owing to a thaw, the surface of the ice is
sloppy, and skaters have become bold through confi-
dence inspired by numbers, prudent people will bngin
to exercise especial caution, and will avoid a crowd,
and if they do not entirely leave the ice, will keep
away from the neighbourhood of the fool-hardy.

v.— THE GAME OF HOCKEY.

The game of hockey is one that will have attractions
only to pure lovers of sport. Cricket and football receive
constant stimulus from the fact that the fair sex, old
players and lookers on in general, are present to admire
and applaud the skill of the combatants. There can be

a screw-plate let into the cross-piece under the seat. The front legs
should be connected at the top and bottom by two cross-pieces 2^ by
7-8, and the hind legs should be the same, (these are not seen in the
pictures). Four hinges, flaps, 2 by i^ wide. Wooden runner 39 by
7-8 in. deep under the seat. Foot-boards 2 by 5-8. The two cross-
pieces, on which the legs stand, and are hinged, 2^ by 7-8. Iron
runners like skate-irous, 39 by i 1-8 by 5-32 (bottom edges not rounded
off)} rising 3 at front, and i at back, but quite flat for 25, viz. under, and
10 in front of the seat. These irons project | under the runners on
which they are screwed. Screws used in all parts.

Skates and Skating. 139

very little of this sort of thing in hockey. It is however,
a game enthusiastically played, and intensely enjoyed
by those who are able to take part in it. It is not so
dangerous as football ; certainly not to be compared with
the latter, when played Rugby fashion. Hockey on the
ice is the counterpart to bandy on terra firma, the
method of the two games being substantially the same.

l^ig. 20^ page 140, shows the shape of the sticks
suitable for this game. They are usually termed ^^ ban-
dies." For toughness, lightness, and shape, the bandy
is made of the bough of a pollard willow tree, or of
that of a pollard ash or ground ash, which more often
grows in the desired curve ; to prevent it slipping in the
hand, the holding parts of the handle may be bound,
as is a cricket bat Hitherto, bandies have not been
sold in shops, but are either cut by the player, or are
ordered of a village carpenter.

In default of obtaining such a one as we have described
an ordinary strong walking stick may be played with,
but it will be at a great disadvantage^ when used against
otlier bandies of the more suitable shape. A stick
such as is shown in Fig. 20 A, may to the uninitiated,
appear a dangerous weapon, but in practice it is not so,
for in the hand of a skilful player, it is used for carrying
on the ball by shoving and guiding, and only occa-
sionally is it used for hard knocking. It is needless to
fix any limit to its length or thickness, because excess
in either of these respects, is a disadvantage to the player
himself. Older and less active [dayers will prefer the

140

Skates and Skating,

baady of the full length of about 89 inch, as is shown in
the picture A^ which would weigh about one lb. ; but a
younger and more active player bends down closer
to his work, and would thus find the extra length
interfere with the movement of his limbs, he would
therefore cut it about 3 inches shorter at each end, and
as he is continually changing it from hand to hand as
occasion requires, he oflen prefers it of a less crooked
form as shown at (B.), the weight would thus be re-

Fig. 20.

duced to little more than three-quarters of a pound. All
bandies should be flat at both sides of the lower end, and
the handle is somewhat flattened also, being only about
5-8 of an inch thick. The game is usually played with
a ball from 6 to 7 inches in circumference. It should
be a solid ball, made of gutta percha, covered with India
rubber. There should be a relay of balls in case of one

Skates arid Skating^ 141

or two being lost, balls costing Id. or 2d. each will da
Fourteen or fifteen players on each side makes the best
hockey match, and for this number an ic^ field of 6 to 7
acres is required. The goals should be 200 to 220 yards
apart, and the length of the field should be about half as
much more as the width. But 4 or 5 acres of ice will
afford good sport, and especially for a smaller number of
players, say ten on each side. The width of the goal is
generally about 15 feet for the larger number of players
specified — but may vary from 10 to 20 feet according to
size of field, number of players, &g., &c. Less than ] 50
yards between the two goals would be too small a field
for a regular match, as scientific play could then hardly
be shown. The line of each goal is fixed as in football
a, few yards (say 10 to 15) from the ends of the field.
(See fio. 21, page 144). These lines are not neces-
sarily marked in any way. The goal is shown by a
suitable mark at each side, such as a mass of snow, thick
pieces of ice, a clod of clay or a sod of earth cut from a
grass field or even a coat doubled up. If a short stick
with a fiag on it can be stuck upright into these, the
goals will be more conspicuous ; marks might also be
placed on each side of the goal to indicate a bye ; some-
times ozier wands are stretched over in an arch from
side to side and about 7 feet high, but no holes should
be made in the ice, or the water will come up and in*
terfere with the game. The players are divided into two
opposing companies, each under a captain. A conspi-
cuous difference in the general costumes of the sides is

142

of a great advantage^ bat ooloored ribbons tied roond
the arms will be sofficiCTt to render considerable aid to
the pltyers in disdngoishing between friends and foes.
The object of tbe players is to knock the ball throngh
their opponents goal and to prev^it it going throng
their own goal. No code of mles has been formnlated
for this game, and even when this shall have been done
mnch will of necessity be left to the right feeling and
courtesy of the players. If there is any instance of
roughness or on&imess in playing, a hint should at
once be given to the transgressor. If this will not saflBce,
the matter should be brought before the captains, whose
duty it is to insist upon proper play. The following
rules will give some idea of the manner in which hockey
should be played.

1. The game is commenced by one player taking the
ball and standing in the centre of the field ; the others
grouping themselves at their discretion. Tbe holder of
the ball then throws it straight up into the air, and when
it falls it becomes general property.

2. During the play the ball may not be taken in the
hand, but may be stop))ed and struck by any part of
the body and skate or bandy.

3. If the ball is knocked off the ice on either side or
over that line which is considered the boundary, it may
be picked up by the first comer who must take it back
as near as possible to the place where it lefl the field,
or where it crossed the boundary, (as this gives rise to
disputes, the rule is sometimes altered so that the ball

Skates and Skating, 143

has to be thrown or placed opposite the point at which
it comes to rest). The player having the ball in hand
may chose his own time and may either have a free hit
or may throw it anywhere in a line across the field, but
not obliquely.

4. If the ball is knocked behind the goal lino it is ^^ a
bye/' and one of the owners of that goal has a free
knock off from any point either behind the goal or
within six yards in fpont of it.

5. If the ball is knocked through the goal ^^ the goal
is made/' and the winning side take that goal instead of
their own and the game is started again, as already des-
cribed, by another throw up in the centre.

6. If half the time for the match expires without a
goal being made, play is stopped, and the sides change
goals and commence again by a throw-up in the centre.

7. The bandy must never be thrown out of the hand,
nor may it be swung about with the intention of hitting
or intimidating or of catching or tripping an opponent.
Nevertheless, for the purpose of preventing the ball beino*
hit at that particular moment, the bandy may be used
to hit, catch, lift up or bear down the bandy of an
opponent.

8. No intentional catching by the band of any part of
an opponent's body^ clothes, or bandy is allowed.

9. No intentional running against an opponent, or
intentional interposing of the body between him and the
ball is allowed, nevertheless, the ball itself may be
moved so that it is protected by the body. It is a well

144 Skates and Skating*

understood thing, that none of the opponents may stand
in the goal or near to it, so as to impede the goal keeper,
nor should they stand immediately in front, when the
ball is knocked off, so as to necessitate a block.

Though adherence to the spirit of these rules will not
of course entirely prevent all collisions, it will greatly
lessen their number and force. It is not good play to
take the ball off to a remote part of the field with no
particular purpose^ and endeavour simply to keep it

Fig. 21.

away frum others; this only leads to loss of time without
helping to make a goal or even a bye.

A captain who understands the tactics of the game
will pick out some of his players, and assign them par*
ticular duties. The diagram Fig. 21, roughly indicates
some of the positions. The goal-keeper (1) is the forlorn
hope of the party of defence^ for he stands close in the
goal to stop the ball at the last moment.

Although his post is one of responsibility it is in the

Skates and Skating. 145

main, one of repose, and every fifteen minutes or so,
another player needing rest is deputed to take this post.
(2) and (3) are placed fifteen to twenty yards in front, and
form an outer line of defence. Rushing to meet the one
who brings up the ball, they compel him to strike it
towards the goal while still at a considerable distance.
This enables the goal-keeper to stop it, without fail.
(4) and (.5) are two of the best players who stand ready
to receive the ball, if driven towards them out of the
scrimmage, and to make a dash with it towards the ene-
mies' goal. (4) and (5) when in need of a rest change
with (2) and (3). The positions (1), (2) and (3,) and
perhaps (4) and (5) should never be left unoccupied.
The rest of the players will generally be grouped near
the central line between the two goals, and will play
according to their own discretion. As a rule, there
is a great deal too much indiscriminate play in
merely knocking the ball backwards and forwards,
which rarely leads to a goal being made. The real
interest and art of the game are brought out when the
ball is passed from friend to friend, until it is carried
out from the general scrimmage, and is taken up by a
clever and fast player, who makes a determined attempt
to carry it through to victor}-. He knows that it is
almost useless to drive it in a direct course for the goal,
for that would be passing through the very camp of the
enemy. He therefore chooses an oblique line towards
the enemies' end of the field in any direction which
appears to be most clear of opponents. They on their

K

146 Skates and Skating,

part dart in pursuit, not meeting the line of his course
directly, or he would, by the slightest change in the
course of bis ball, give them the slip on whatever side
he chose, but they strike obliquely towards his course,
and thus oblige him, in order to retain the ball, to drive it
still further from the central line. If he can elude one
or two of these attacks, he has drawn some of his
enemies from the front of their goal, and has lessened the
distance of the ball from their end. But as a set-oft
to these advantages, the ball must very soon have its
direction changed, by his turning it inwards towards
the goal. This he does, choosing the best opening he
can find between the serried ranks of his opponents.
Now he encounters a host of difficulties, and he will
perhaps fail in his attempt, though even in the sight of
victory ; if however, he can elude the advance guards, he
takes the ball right up to the goal, when a well-aimed hit
may send it through in spite of the goal-keeper who has
strained every nerve to stop it. If however, he cannot
elude the front guards, he Ynay perhaps, by a long shot,
knock it past them with like eft^ect. £ven if this fails a
melee will ensue in front of the goal, and a well-directed
hit by one of his own side may yet make the goal. There
will perhaps be only one or two of a party who have the
skill, activity, and speed to accomplish such a feat as we
have described, but others can render valuable help] by
following close up, ready to carry on the ball when pos-
session of it is lost by the first players, and by their mere
presence they will hamper the enemy in pursuit Then

Skates and Skating, 147

again, if they are on the opposite side to the player
who is carrying on the ball to their goal, while they
cannot actually outpace and take the ball from him, yet
by resolutely rushing for it, they immensely add
to his difficulties and anxiety, and often take away the
choice he would otherwise have for the path of the ball.
Hockey is the fijame of all others which will bring out
the full energy, vigour, and activity of a young man.
In ordinary running-skating, the chief exertion is in
starting and stopping quickly. Hence, hockey, even if
temperately played, is far more tiring than a continuous
journey on the ice, even at very great speed.

The " standard hockey skates " referred to at page 76
are made extra strong in the blade, and with double the
amount of curve at the bottom so as to render turning
easier, while they are sufficiently flat to take hold of the
ice by a considerable portion of their length, and so to
admit of considerable speed

A slow running-skater can hardly be a first-class
hockey player, but he may do much useful service to his
party. On the other hand, while a first-class racing skater
may be a first-class hockey player, the continuous
scratching for the purpose of starting quickly will have
a tendency to spoil his racing stroke. Every athletic
figure-skater, having skates weU strapped on, should
join in the game whenever he has the chance, for he
will thus find a new pleasure in life, and may discover
that he has powers hitherto unknown to himself.

Of course hockey cannot be played on a field where

148 Skates and Skating,

there are a great number of skaters^ but if there are
only a few, the hockey players, by confining themselves
to one side only of the field, will not interfere with the
general sport.

As this book bears the name of Fen skating, we
may mention that Bluntisham and Earith (Hunts.)
having the advantage of their fine piece of flooded
land at Bury Fen, have produced some of the finest
players. Swavesey (Cambs.) has played several
matches and have one of the best skating fields.
Chatteris and Cottenham have of old been noted for
their players. Nor are the gentlemen of Huntingdon
and Godmanchester far behind, their training grounds
being on the flooded meadows in the parish of Hartford.
In the Fens and its surrounding towns and villages
there are doubtless many hockey teams of equal prowess,
but those we have mentioned are better known from
their matches having been reported in the newspapers.

Since the foregoing was written the Bluntisham and E^ith Hockey
Club have drawn up a code of rules which we give in Appendix A.

EXPLANATION OF THE MAP.

iHE map on the preceding pages was prepared by
Mr. Sidney Tebbutt, who has been at con-
siderable trouble in collecting information concerning
the highways for skating, and has furnished us with
copious notes upon the subject. These we have
endeavoured to embody in our text.

The map embraces the whole fen district, which
occupies parts of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire. Norfolk,
Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire.

The highlands or uplands, which surround the fens,
and occur in insular fragments in its midst, is indicated
by dotted shade.

The fen land is left plain, and the various rivers, main
drains and other water courses which are best suited for
skating are shewn ; there are, however, many others
which from narrowness, growth of weeds or other
causes are not so eligible, and these have been omitted
to avoid confusion. For the same reason the roads

ExplatiatuM of the Map.

have not been inserted, but the railways have been
shown and the stations indicated thus — . — O — . —

The washes of the Ouse, Kene and Welland, which
are always overflowed in time of flood or high water,
are indicated by linear shade. The figures and numbers
at the margin of the map are used for reference in the
appendix, where further details are given.

All the principal towns adjacent to the fens including
Lincoln at the north and Cambridge at the south are
given, and also those fen villages which lie contiguous
to the water courses.

N.B. — The railway from Ely to ijohain has been
accidentally omitted.

GEOGRAPHY AND TRAVELLING.

|HE general facilities which the Fen country
afford to those who delight in the incidents
of travel and change of scene, and who consider these to
bea£freat augmentation of the joys of a mode of locomo-
tion which comes nearer to the flight of birds than that of
any method of progression of which man is capable, have
been already pointed out. It is necessary, however,
that we should enter into some further detail, in order
that our readers may safely and readily secure the some-
what rare opportunities which present themselves. The
great plain of the Fens lies on a dead level, which is
almost the same as that of the mean height of the waters
of the ocean, and is traversed by four great main rivers.
These are, beginning from the north and proceeding
southward, the Witham, the Welland with its affluent
the Glen, the Nene, and the Ouse with its tributary the
Cam. These are not only confined and carried through
the flat country by artiflcial banks, but even their beds
and their courses are to a large extent, artificial. Each
of these haB a town where it enters the Fen country and
another where it approaches the sea. These towns were

156 Geography ajid Travdling.

anciently of great importance, and some of them are still
considerable. Thus the Witham has Lincoln at the
upper and Boston at the nether end of its Fen coarse.
The Welland has Deeping and Spalding. The Neue
has Peterboro'.igh and Wisbeach. The Ouse has St Ives
and King's Lynn. While the Cam has the university
town of Cambridge where fen and highland join.

The Witham is defended by a sluice at Boston, but the
three southern rivers are open to the incursion of the tide
which is felt more or less throughout the whole ot their
course through the fens. The Welland has a sluice a
little below Stamford which is about thirty miles from
the sea. The Nene has none below Peterborough, which
is about the same distance from the ocean. The last
sluice on the Great Ouse is at Earith ^' Stanch," (some-
times called Bluntisham Stanch), which is about 36 miles
from Lynn and nearly 40 from the mouth of that river.
The waters of the Cam are defended by the great sluice at
Denver. The rivers open to the tide are of course seldom
frozen in their lower reaches, though this is felt so little
at the upper part of their fen course that skating is often
to be had for very considerable distances below the
lowest sluices. The best fen skating, however, is to be
had, not on the main rivers, but on the artificial cuts
used for the purpose of draining the fens themselves.
All these are defended at their lower ends, some by
sluices which only allow the water to flow out, and are
closed by the outward pressure when the tide rises ; some
by gates placed under the control of watchers, and many by

Geography and Travelling, 157

solid banks, the water being thrown over these by engines
and windmills. The Middle Level Drain, which carries
the water of almost the whole of the vast district called the
Middle Level, had at its lower end a system of syphons,
through which the fresh water discharged itself when the
tide was out, while the connection was broken when the tide
water of the Ouse rose to a higher level than the water of
the drain. These are now replaced by a sluice. The system
of Cornelius Vermuyden, though scarcely satisfactory to
the engineers of the present day, or to the proprietors of
the fen-land, is highly so to fen skaters. By this system
subsidiary channels were carried parallel to the old water
courses, and the space in between was Jeft as a reservoir
for the upland waters when these came down faster than
the rivers could carry them away. In going into detail,
perhaps it will be as well to commence at Cambridge,
(the most populous starting point). Till quite recently
Cambridge was unfortunate in its skating grounds.
The river is so near its source, and so tortuous and full
of eddies, that it is seldom that any skating can be had
upon it above the town. An excellent piece of meadow
skating has, however, of late years been secured at
Lingay Fen^ near Qranchester. This meadow lies in
the angle between the main stream of the Granta and
Bourne Brook. The third side of the triangle is made
by the London and North Western Railway. This can
be flooded at almost any time, and its isolation enables
the tenants to secure gate-money by guarding all other
approaches and throwing a bridge across the brook at

158 Geography and Travelling.

which they take their toll. This may, perhaps, be con-
sidered a questionable advantage to the public ; but as
the charore is moderate and ladies have hitherto been
admitted free, and some care has been taken to secure
a ^ood course and communication between the two fields
which once were divided by hedge and ditch, we have
but little reason to complain. Lingay Fen is rather over
three miles from Great Saint Mary's Church, and can be
got at either by the main road to Trumpington (locally
called the Grind), or by the footpath through Gran-
chester. The entrance is from the road running from
Trumpington to Granchester at that angle of it which
lies a little to the west of the watermill, which is
embalmed in the roaring fun of Chaucer's Reeve's tale.
There is also a field, lesser but nearer, at Newnham,
called Preston's Field. The growing population of
Barnwell also now rejoices in an ice area on Stourbridge
Common, which is one of the first to bear and affords
room for a course of 660 yards. Those bent on travelling
will find their wav to the river across Midsummer
Common or by Gas Lane, and so on to the river. From
thence, if there has been a previous week of hard frost,
including at least one night in which the thermometer
has sunk to 20^ below freezing point, the skater will get
a run of 33 miles, the ice becoming safer as he goes.
He will encounter two locks and a most vexatious num-
ber of ferries which are kept open as long as possible,
not so much for the purpose of taking toll of the rare
passengers who cross the river, as from the numerous

Geography and Travelling. 159

skaters who wish to get to Ely by the ioe. Thus, as at
the Nile Bridge at Cairo, it is not he who is helped but
he who is impeded who has to pay.

When the frost has been only moderately severe, at
each ferry floats, unfiled, an idle boat with a dozen ducks
dosing out the weary hours on an eight-foot cross-cut,
with their heads upon their backs or standing on one
leg on the ice beside it, and contemplating their narrowed
circumstances. While on the ice there stand two or
more stalwart sons of the soil ready to assist the tra-
veller's tottering steps over a track of straw and to relieve
him of a few coppers. It is well, therefore, to start
with some two or three shillings worth of copper coin,
(unless the tourist prefers the Dutch method of jump-
ing). He may be assured that he will get rid of it all,
and enter upon the fen country, where he will have
more sea-room, unballasted not to say crank. Of course
if the young gentlemen of Cambridge prefer to become
a real blessing to the riparian labourers, then out of em-
ployment, by scattering shillings instead of pence, there
can be no objection.

During that debateable time which furnishes
an excuse for these exactions, one should be
willing to pay for civil help, but when we found a stal-
wart fellow at Bottisham lock, when the ice was firm and
thick right up to ihe side, with a huge crow-bar,
breaking away a broad margin, in order to compel skaters
to go over his plank, and to take toll of them ; we gave
him our mind on the subject, having first taken the pre-

160 Geography and Travelling,

caution to cross the impediment. Whether it was that
our lecture was convincing, or that Jack Frost was too
much on our side, we know not, but we were pleased to
find next day that the breach was healed, the path open,
and that the foot-pad had decamped.

Jt is a serious hindrance to some travellers that each
of these entrenchments is flanked and commanded by a
public-house. Those who can never surmount such works
without further fortifying themselves, are apt to find
themselves at nightfall " Five miles from anywhere^'*
or taking a bed with " The Pike andEeV* A good sharp
frost mends the way best, and last season we found only
one wide open ferry. Supposing the traveller to have
overcome these difficulties, below Bottisham lock he will
have left behind him well nigh all lets and hindratices,
also, all elms, aud oaks, and hedges, and have entered the
land of windmills, engines, and pollard willows, and banks
that bar the view. Continuing his course along the main
river. Beach Lode is announced *by the pumping engine
which easts its water over the right bank. Should he
explore this Lode, it would lead him straight to the huge
ancient barrier called the Devil's D}'ke, which ends
where the Lode begins, for the East Angles needed no
better defence in those old times, against their trouble-
some Mercian neighbours, than the bogs of the fens
then furnished. Wicken Sedge Fen too, with its rare
ferns and flowers, butterflies and moths, now in
their winter rest and chrysalis state, is indicated on the
4same side by the comfortable little inn^ which overlooks

Geography and Travelling, 161

the ferry, and where many a naturah'st has found rest
after his loved labours.

About three miles from Ely, at a place once called
Harrimere, a stream runs in on the left at an acute angle.
This is the old West River. It is the remnant of what
was once the main branch of the Ouse. Though shorn
of its ancient glory by the Dutchman who conveyed the
waters of the Ouse straifjht to Denver by the Hundred-
foot cut, it is still good skating ground. By it one
can pass under Stretham stone bridge, and past the place
where William the Conqueror carried his causeway to
the Camp of Refuge ; and so on upward to the Hermitage
close to Earith Bridge Station. It would be better
still as an ice highway if it would altogether cast off
all its old pretensions of carrying the Ouse waters, that is,
if the " Hermit " at the Hermitage, now represented by
a "water-side charactler," having command of the
sluice there, did not now and then, in a most capricious
manner, send down a little Ouse water, and so cause the
ice to arch up its back like an angry cat, and present a
surface like a house roof, with an open crack where the
roof-tree should be. It is by this old river that the
inhabitants of Rampton and Cottenham find access to
the fen by Rampton Lode. The amateur champion ot
England, resident at Willingham. also, can only reach
the fen district by way of tha engine drain which delivers
into the Old West. From Harrimere to the Hermitage
is about twelve miles — an hour's easy run if ice bo good
—with such enfranchisement and free scope beyond as

L

162 Geography and Travelling,

belong tx) the main channel of the Ouse. If, instead
of making this digression, the traveller continues along
the Cam from Harrimere, leaving the Old West on his
left, he will soon see the splendid Norman tower and
lantern of Ely cathedral, surmounting the white haze
which in winter so often lies lovingly around " The Isle,"
After a run of about seventeen miles, which under few
circumstances, can be accomplished in less than two
hours, while such various hindrances are met, the town
of Ely is reached. It is as well to point out here, that
the railway station, with its refreshment room is, as an
Irishman would say, very convanient to the ice. The
dock, near the station, being free from current, freezes
quickly, and is long enough for racing purposes. The
wash land lying along the sides of the railway on
the east side of the city is very often flooded, and makes
a fine skating ground. Londoners who v^ish to visit the
Fen in time of frost, can hardly do better than take up
their quarters at Ely. If the traveller will continue his
course, let him be careful how he shoots under the
bridges and through the town, and remember the motto,
^* tola trita, via tvJta^'* " Beaten tracks are safe." Having
passed the town, which he can seldom do without a few
steps ashore, he enters on plainer ground, and may race
the locomotive engine down to Littleport, unless he prefer
to go in for a Lark^ as the tributary is called, whiqh
comes in temptingly on the right By this he could explore
the region of Prickwillow, Isleham, and Mildenhall.
At Isleham reside N. and J. Brown, two good strong

Geography and Travdling, 163

skaters who have in their time won many a fast heat
Four miles below Littleport \hQ entrance of the
Little OasOy or Brandon river, is passed. This little
river forms in its upper course the boundary between
Norfolk and Suffolk, and at one time was, with
its tributaries, the Wissey and the Nar, the sole source
of the water which passed to the sea by Lynn harbour.
Brandon where the Little Ouse enters the Fen is
thirteen miles away, and very often this part will not
bear when the main stream is quite safe. In proceeding
to Denver sluice the islands of Southery and Hilgay are
left on the right hand. They are the outlyers of the Norfolk
highlands, and are surrounded by the fen land. Larman
Begister still lives and farms at Southery, surrounded
by the skating heroes of thirty years ago. At
Denver sluice, which is a work well worth examining,
we are brought to the point where the main waters of
the Ouse unite with those derived from the Southern
borders of the fen over which we have been, in imagina-
tion, travelling. Here the traveller will find himself in
a cul de saCy for the waters of the Ouse at this part are
scarcely ever frozen so as to bear, and if they were, it
would still be difficult to get upon the central parts of
the river because the body of the ice moves up and down
with the tide and thus the edges are broken. A walk
of two or three miles will take him by Downham Bridge
to Salter's Lode, and from thence he has many courses,
to be detailed afterwards. The distance from Cambridge
to Denver sluice by river is about thirty-three miles y^

164 Gtography and TraveUnig.

it being aboat seventeen from Cambridge to Elj, aboot
five from Eljr to Litdeport,six from LitUeport to Soathery
ferry and five more to the sluice. This roote has the
advantage of presenting to the eye a considerable change
of scenery. The highlands are scarcely ever oot of sight,
for when the spars of the uplands which ran oat from the
soath fade from the sight, the Isle of Ely, crowned with
its cathedral, comes in view, and these have scarcely been
left behind before the western highlands of Norfolk become
visible. While, however, the lower part of the river,
being defended from the tides, soon becomes consolidated
by frost, the apper portion, being near the springs, is
often dangerous. The stream, though apparently slug-
gish, will, if the frost be not continuously severe, wear
away the ice and render places, previously safe, insecure.
Indeed, on the slightest thaw the river becomes exceed-
ingly treacherous, and the writer has witnessed many
immersions, and suffered some, at a time when there has
been perfectly solid ice, not only on the stagnant rivers
of the rest of the Fen, but even on the Hundred-foot
river. Last season, two young men from Cambridge,
lost their lives near Bottisham, from this cause, almost
before the thaw set in.

Let us now transport our readers to the valley of the
Ouse, and let our starting point be Huntingdon. This
pleasant little county town is fully ten miles from the
Fen, but the country is comparatively flat, and the Ouse
is broad and sluggish, and divided into steps by mill dams
and weirs, with but little fall between them. Hence

Geography and Travelling, 165

there is often good skating upon the Ouse right up to
Bedford, and even beyond. This skating occurs however,
only at intervals, for, not only do the locks obstruct the
traveller, but the stream, sluggish though it be, is suffi-
ciently strong and constant, to keep open portions of
the river wherever the bed is unusually narrow, or the
turns abrupt. These openings are locally termed
** wakes." Whether this is on account of the contrast
between the active water which moves on their surface,
when compared with the rest of the ice-bound river,
we must leave to philologists to decide. These some-
times stretch right across the river. Thus, while very
good skating is often obtained at St. Neots and Bedford,
and other places, it is very seldom that a skater can make
his way up the river without many breaks and discom-
forts. These " wakes " usually occur at the same
places year after year, though modified in size and shape
by circumstances. At Huntingdon itself, the river is
broad, and generally freezes quickly, but, a little below
it, and in the neighbourhood of Hartford churchy where
the river is narrow and tortuous, there is always open
water, sometimes with narrow strips of available ice on
the inside of the curves, and sometimes without these
rather risky passes. This state of things on one occasion
produced a singular and rather awkward result. For
after a long frost succeeded by a thaw, the river was left
open at Hartford, while below Huntingdon Bridge was
a sheet of sound ice on which a large number of
people disported themselves. Suddenly a large piece of

166 Geography arid Travelling.

ice with some 50 people upon it parted from the rest, and
slowly floated downward, breaking up as it proceeded.
All these unwilling voyagers escaped, some dry and
some wet, but the fright was so great, that some of them
have never ventured on the ice since. Huntinordon has
been the scene of very many races on the ice and it is
well fitted for such encounters. Indeed, in no other
place is the spectacle so picturesque. The bridge is ancient
and massive, and a very striking object. On several
occasions the course has been through the arches of the
bridge, which on such rare occasions has been crowded
with spectators, and the whole scene was remarkably
effective. It was on this course that Tom Watkinson
beat Carter in January, 1875. On a previous occasion
the reach above Godmanchester was made use of, and
the railway bridge then became the point of vantage.
The most singular rendezvous of the racers was that
which they made use of in 1867, when they met and
competed on the Huntingdon race course absolutely
where the horses run in the summer time, the grand
stand being used for the accommodation of spectators.
On both of these occasions S. J. Smith, of Holme, was
victor, and as he was looked upon as the local candidate
the excitement was great. Hinchingbrook House, once
the abode of the Golden Knight, (uncle to Oliver Crom-
well), and now the seat of the Earl of Sandwich, lineal
descendant of Pepys's patron, overlooks both these locali-
ties, and is almost within the range of the eye. It is here,
and we believe only here, that noble patrons have

Geography and Travelling, 167

assembled in goodly n ambers to view the contests. The
Duke and Duchess of Manchester, Viscount Mandeville,
Earl Gosford, and the Marquis of Hartington, and many
more here witnessed the exploits of men who may
well have been the descendants of those Ironsides whom
the Great Protector calls '* a lovely company " of " plain
honest men,patientof wants, and faithful and conscientious
in their employment." The meadows below Huntingdon
at Hartford, Witton, and Hemingford are readily
flooded, and bear with but little frost. On one occasion
the volunteers in full uniform and equipment appeared
on skates on these meadows and went through their
evolutions with fewer catastrophes than might have been
expected, for all of them, both officers and men, were in
some measure acquainted with the art. Between Hart-
ford and Houghton there is a very fine broad part of the
river called Houghton Whale, This is so wide that it
afforded room last year for some fine games of" hockey "
or " bandy," the Huntingdon and Godmanchester men
being great proficients at this fine sport. They are, per-
haps, unequalled except by the men of Bluntisham and
Earith, who claim never to have been beaten. Between
Houghton and St. Ives the river is not so good for
skating purposes, and the traveller is delayed by many
obstacles. Nor do the meadows lend themselves so
readily to the sport, for, while there are some splendid
meadows at Hemingford and St. Ivr s, these are entirely
without embankment of any kind. Hence, thoqgh they are
constantly flooded, no sooner has the ice been formed and

168 Geography and Travelling.

the flow fromabove been checked, than the watei- which sus-
tained the ice runs off from below it and leaves it hollow.
Buch hollow ice is called cafs ice and is very brittle.
Above St. Ives Bridge, which is equally picturesque
with that of Huntingdon, and is flanked by a fine old
'^ house with seven gables," there is often a good piece
of ice for skating. Proceeding downward past Holywell
to Overcote, we find there a ferry and a little stream
comes in on the right from Swavesey. This stream has
some low ground adjoining it which is oflen flooded, and
has in time past afforded some excellent skating. This
meadow, known to the inhabitants of Cambridge as
Swavesey meadow, is the place whereon the National
Skating Association may be said to have originated afler
the grand match of the 28th January, 1879. Leaving
this fine arena on our right, we proceed onward to
Earith stanch, waich is the last bar on this river, and
immediately below it on the left is a skating arena which
is even grander than that of Swavesey • This is called
Bury Fen, This b en is very readily flooded, and the
water can be held up easily. The owners and occupiers
have always been very hospitable, and the public has
always been welcome. Unfortunately, the gates by
which the water is allowed to run off, when desirable, are
not always in good repair. The championship race was to
have been run on this Fen last season, but at the last
moment some malicious person is said to have opened the
gates and let the water run oft'. When fully flooded, from
above Bluntisham Chui'ch to Earith village, this sheet of

Geography and Travelling, 169

water is more than a mile long by a quarter broad, and
on it are played the best hockey matches in the kingdom.
The new railway from St. Ives to Ely has cut it in two,
but still it is one of the best skating grounds in the
Eastern Counties, and visitors have easy access to it from
Bluntisham station, three-quarters of a mile distant, or
from Earith Bridge station, which is about one
mile distant. Continuing our course down the
river we pass Earith. Just below it on the
left, are the gates through which the water in time of
flood is let into the head of the Old Bedford river and
through it to the washes. A quarter of a mile further,
on the right, la the Hermitage sluice already referred
to, which communicates with the Old West. Immediately
after passing this the skater turns sharply to the left,
passes under the suspension bridge, and enters upon the
straight artificial cut called the Hundred-foot or New
Biver. Four miles down, the tourist passes under the
wooden bridge at Sutton, and after another mile comes to
Mepal bridge. Here it is well to enquire what is the state
of the ice on the river below, and if the report is unfavour-
able, it is better to cross to the Old Bedford river. For,
even though the river may bear well enough, there are sure
to be places, where, in the earlier stages of the frost, the
ice has been piled up by the tide, layer on layer, while
some fragments are tilted into a perpendicular position.
When such masses of piled ice only occur at intervals
with smooth ice in between them, they are often inter-
esting as marking the battle-fields of the tide and frost

170 Geograpky and Trawdling.

on each saoceeding daj, and it is a pleasant change to
thrid one's way through the confnsed maze, bat when
the straggle has been so indecisive, that the whole river
for miles consists of dislocated and ill-set ice, it becomes
monotonoas and vexations. The writer has often skated
down below Welnej Suspension bridge, and on one
occasion went to within less than a mile of Denver
sluice, but had to return as he went, as it was impossible
to get to the side, for the ice was loosened from the edge
bj the rise and fall of the tide, and, though it would
have been perfectly easy to leap the chasm, the shores
were 80 clothed with a coating ofhummocky ice that
such an attempt would certainly have resulted in sousing
the adventurer in that which an Alpine climber would call
a Bergschrund. In times of low water and slight frost,
the alternative road from Earith to Salter's Lode
by the Old Bedford river, is the only available one.
This river derives its name from the Earl of Bedford
who was the chief of the adventurers^ at whose risk the
cut was made. It should be understood, that this river
which was originally meant to carry the waters of
the Ouse right through, has ceased to be so used, since
the Hundred-foot was constructed. Now, at its upper
end, it is simply a channel through which the washes on
its right are flooded, while at its lower end it carries
water thrown into it from the northern side. Indeed,
at Welches dam the bank crosses its old bed, so that its
upper portion is completely cut off from its lower course,
and the skater, who starts from Earith, and wishes to go

O^raphy and TravelUng, 171

to Salter's Lode, must oross the bank at some part of his
course. Just below the seven holes (often oalled the nine
holes,) the rush of the water has excavated a deep pit,
and the channel below for a few hundred yards is pretty
good, but inasmuch as the water for the most part
rashes over to the washes on the right, there is no
stream lower down in the old channel, and this is con-
sequently grown up with rushes and rovids. There are
also a good many springs in the old river bod, and some
of them are supposed to be warm springs, hence, the
skater finds himself at this part ''bound in shallows
and in miseries.** Further down the old river is
better, but the traveller cannot do better than to get
over the left bank as soon as possible, and so on to
the Counter wash drain which is continuous with tho
lower part of the river. This however, he cannot do
until he has proceeded 1^ miles from Earith, as tho Coun-
ter wash drain commences at that point. When
once on the Counter wash drain, his course is clear. He
passes Sutton Gaultand Mepal bridges, and then, at nine
miles from Earith, arrives at Welches dam, whore the
Forty-foot river comes in from the left This river leads
upward to Chatteris and Ramsey, but there is a sluice
at its junction with tlieOld Bedford. Continuing his course,
the skater, after three miles good skating, passes under
the Qreat Eastern railway bridge near Manea station.
Another three miles brings him to Welney — the metro-
polis of the skating country. From thence to Salter's
Lode is six miles. In time of flood, the whole wash,

172 Geography and Travelling,

lying between the old and new rivers, is available as far
down as Welmore Lake slaice. Traversing this extended
wash, and passing the various rails, holts, and roads
which ran across it, has all the excitement of a steeple-
chase. Sometimes when the rivers will not bear, a
a very shallow depression lying between the bank and
the water course, will do so. The water lying in this
hollow, freezes most readily, and the ice so formed, often
lies upon the ground. Thus, the skater traversing it
finds himself gliding over an uneven surface, and subject
to sudden accelerations and retardations of speed, which
are rather unexpected. This however, is by no means
unpleasant, nor does it lessen his speed materially, if
at all. After a severe frost, the best course for the
twenty-one miles is to start on the main Hundred-foot
from £arith, then cross at Mepal to the Counter-wash,
and so downward. In passing the little inn at Mepal,
the traveller will often see hung from the beam
sustaining the sign-board, a leg of mutton gar-
nished with pink ribbon, which is to be the reward of
the successful competitor in the race which almost daily
takes place during the irost

At Salter's Lode Sluice, the tourist, if in good heart,
would do well to cross over the bank to the left, and
so get on to Well Creek. He must then turn his face
almost in a directly oj>posite difection, and so proceed
to Nordelph — once the home of Gittam and Young.
Gradually turning to the right or northwards, he passes
over the Middle Level Drain, and arrives at the long,

Geography and Travelling. 173

straggling village of Outwell, and thence by the Wis-
bech canal to Wisbech, which is the metropolis of the
fen country. There are several locks on this canal, and
its guardians have a habit of running off the water from
below the ice in that portion which is near Wisbech.
In this case the tourist has to skate on a plain inclined
sidewaj'^s at an angle of from 20 to 40 degrees. This
however, is not difficult if the ice be not also broken up
or bad in quality. Irom Salter's lode to Wisbech is
eleven miles, and this canal is the connecting link
between the waters of the Ouse and those of the Nene,
That portion of it which lies between Outwell and Wis-
bech was the old channel of the River Ouse which once
delivered its waters to the sea by Wisbech. •

We must leave the Nene for the present to speak of
a skating tract which is generally a very fine one and
one of the first to bear* We have incidentally mentioned,
in our journey from Earith to Wisbech, passing the
end of the Forty-foot river (Vermuyden's Drain) at
Welches Dam, and also passing over the Middle Level
Drain between Nordelph and Outwell. We thus
touched, at two points, a fine skating course of twenty-
four miles, for, if the traveller leaves the Old Bedford
at Welches Dam, he may proceed for three miles along
the Forty-foot, and then turn at a little less than a right
angle to the east along the Sixteen-foot, and so on to
the Middle Level Main Drain which is continuous with
it and almost in the same straight line. Hence pursuing
his unimpeded course for rather more than twenty miles.

174 Geography and Travdling.

he will come to the new Mardhland Slaioe, which
delivers the waters derived from the Middle Level into
the Ouse just above the Eau Brink Cut This sluice was
built in lieu of the syphons which were found unequal
to the work. Popham's Eau (pronounced E) crosses
this track^ running from the March river to Nordelph,
where again there is an artificial cut called Tongas
Drain (or Marshland Cut) running to the Ouse through
a distance of 4^ miles.

From Upwell the skater can proceed upward by the
March river to March, to Whittlesea, and so on to
Standground and Peterborough by the King's Dyke or
Back river. By keeping to the left from Flood's Ferry
(at the junction) he can go on to Ramsey or to the
Forty-foot river. If he wishes to go by the latter to
Chatteris, he had better leave tlie Old River at Benwick
and so make a short cut to Yermuyden's Drain. All
these courses are best seen on the map at the head of
the chapter. There are other smaller drains, but these
are too numerous to mention. Perhaps, however,
Bevill's Leam, which now drains the site of Whittlesea
mere, and is carried through to the Twenty-foot, which
after approaching within a mile of the River Nene,
turns southward to join the March river below March,
ought to be mentioned. From the angle thus formed
there is a small ditch by which the traveller can get on
to the Nene washes.

Before quitting the Ouse, or the Middle and South Level
districts, it may be well to mention some journeys which

Oeography and Travelling, 1 75

have been performed in them. A gentleman has on several
occasionsy skated in the day from Earith to Wisbech and
back dining at the latter place — a distance of 64 miles.
On another occasion he went with a party of others
from Earith to Salter's Lode, walked to Denver, saw T.
Watkinson win a race at Littleport, and went by Ely
and the Old West Biver to Earith again^ which was a
distance of about 54 miles. He once started from Over
Cote, skated to within sight of Denver's Sluice in the
New River, had to retrace his strokes to within two
miles of Welney, and then made his way by smaller
drains to Hilgay, and having passed Ely, and proceeded
a mile past the junction of tlic Ouse and Cam, met a
party of friends, and returned with them to Ely, then
dined, and returned with them to Cambridge — a distance
estimated by measurements on the map of 70 miles.
Four brothers — the Messrs. Tebbutt of Bluntisham —
having skated to Wisbech by Salter's Lode, and re-
turned by the Middle Level Drain and Forty-foot to
Welches Dam, crossed the Washes a second time on
foot, and ran on the main river back to Earith suspen-
sion bridge. Two of them with unsatisfied appetite for
the delightful exercise turned and went to Mepal and back
again — thus accomplishing certainly more than seventy
miles notwithstanding many impediments. A young lady
in her teens last winter skated over rough ice, and against
the wind, from Cambridge to Denver, and turned back
to Ely — a distance of about fifly miles — accomplishing it
with ease.

176 Geography and TraveUtng,

The Nene presents to the skater almost the same
features as the Ouse. Thus, its water passes from just
below Peterborough to Guyhirn by an artificial cut
called the New River, while to the south of it runs an
older cut, also artificial, called Morton's Learn (in honour
of the famous Bishop Morton, who was mainly instru-
mental in constructing it). Between them is a large wash-
way used as a reservoir of water in time of flood, and
varying from one quarter to three quarters of a mile in
width, and twelve miles long, Afutatis mtitandis,
these are exactly the same conditions as are found in
the Ouse, and it would be tedious to repeat the cautions,
&c., which apply to both rivers. Below Guyhirn,
the open tidal river does not often bear, though, now and
then we have known skating down to Wisbech, and
even below it. Over the bank, on the north side of the
main river is a Counter-wash drain, and from this the
skater can gain access to the interesting skating district
of the North Level, either by the Thomey river which
communicates with it at the ^^ Dog in a doublet," five
miles below Peterborough, or by the NewWryde, which
runs from " The Cross Guns " to Clows Cross. Thorney
dyke, which runs in to the New Wryde at Knarr Cross,
affords good skating, and is easily frozen. The New
Wryde is an excellent skating tract. Two-and-a-half
miles from " The Cross Guns." it takes a sharp turn to
the east, while the Old Wryde comes in from the west ;
and again at Murrow, at an equal distance, it turns
to the north. At Clow's (or Clough's) Cross, its

Geography and Travelling. 177

waters pass through lifting slaice gates^ or slackers,
to the North Level Main Drain, and so by Tydd-
jTote, about seven miles lower down, to the Nene
outfall cut. The North Level Main Drain, correspond-
ing to the Middle Level Main Drain, is, like it, a fine
broad skating highway. From Clow's Cross the New
South Eau runs upward to within a mile of Crowland
and the Washes of the Welland. It is somewhat
difficult to pass from the North Level to the Welland
Washes and to the district beyond. The direct route to
Peakirk by the Old Wryde and the Peakirk Drain is
seldom skatable. There is a communication from the
middle of the New South Eau by the Portsand Drain
and St James' Drain to Brotherhouse, which is close
to the Welland Washes, and lies between Crowland and
Cowbit, but the skating on these narrow drains is pre-
carious. A more circuitous but a safer route is to go
by the North Level Main Draip to Tydd, and then to walk
to the South Holland Drain, and skate westwards to
the Welland. Mr, S. Egar, of Wryde House, Thomey,
is the practical aothority from whom we have derived
most of our information of this part of the fen. He
belongs to a skating family of high renown, and has
himself performed many remarkable journeys both on
this Level and the Middle Level.

The Washes of the Welland, called the Cowbit (pro-
nounced CubbitJ washes are easily flooded, and consti-
tute when so flooded and frozen, one of the most splendid
denting arenas in the fen. They stretch from Peakirk

M

178 Geography and Travelling,

nearly to Spalding, and are twelve miles long, and in
some places abont a mile wide. They differ from the
washes of the Oase and Nene, in that there is no bank
between them and the main river, and so they receive the
overflow of water without any opening of gates. There
is also a drain running along the south-eastern margin
of these washes by which the traveller can pass when
the washes are not flooded, and the main river is un-
frozen on account of its current The Welland seldom
freezes so as to furnish skating below Spalding. From
the Welland the traveller may pass northwai*d by the
Cross Drain which approaches to within 300 yards of
that river at a point about two miles below Poakirk.
From this drain he can pass to the South Drove Drain,
the North Drove Drain and the Counter Drain, all of
which lie between the Welland and the Glen, and
run away from Cross Drain to the east and unite at
Pode Hole Engine to form Yernatt's Drain (or Deeping
Fen Main Drain).

The River Glen is a fine broad stream, but it requires
a hard frost to close it. When it is frozen the
traveller can pass from the Counter Drain to Bourn
Eau, and by a small drain to Guthram's Engine and so
on to the South Forty-foot which runs round to Boston,
a distance of more than twenty miles.

As the Witham Biver is locked by the sluice just above
Boston, the run from that town to the City of Lincoln,
a distance of thirty-two miles, is generally good. Mr.
D. C. Burlingham, of Lynn, to whom and to whose son

Geography and Travelling, 179

Mr. S. S. Burlingham, we are indebted for much
information about these districts, gave so interesting an
account of three day's skating in the fens of Lincolnshire
last season that we have, by permission, incorporated it
in full : —

SKATING EXTRAORDINARY.

From various remarks I have heard I think some of your readers will
be interested n a few more particulars of the " skate extraordinary," as
your reporter in the last issue flatteringly terms our recent excursion
into Lincolnshire. I will, therefore, venture on your kindness as upon
the ice, assure(\ it will not let me in.

My youngest son, Alfred, being about to return to school in York-
shire, I thought it a favourable opportunity of giving pleasure to the
lad and to my son, Samuel, who accompanied us, and also of gratifying
41 long-cherished wish I had entertained of seeing more of the Lincoln-
shire system of drainage by skating to its farthest extremity.

We started by the lo.o train for Sutton Bridge, and walking from
thence about one mile along the Nene, came to South Holland; upon
which we found the ice pretty fair, but not equal to the North Level«
upon which we had skated the previous Saturday nearly to Crowland.
The sun shone brightly, and we went merrily along, stopping to talk to
most of the natives we met, to inquire the. name of every bridge, and to
look up every drain of any magnitude as we passed. One of these
bridges was the *' Coy " bridge, (short for " decoy,") hard by a planta-
tion that had been an old decoy ; and one of the larger drains was the
Kaven's Clough, that led into Whaplode, which gives name to the parish
of which our old friend John Fairfax Francklin is the vicar. Had there
been a way out further down as well as this way in, I would have made
a detour for the pleasure of a chat with him ; but skating days are
short, and you must push on, as you know not what may befall ere set
of sun. Along the drains are no telegraphs and often no reports. A
man must make his own tracks or stop at home. Further west this

180 Geoffraphp and Tra9tUing.

great drain kept narrowing, and for the last three miles was only the
width of a dyke, and so much snowed over that we were glad to reach
its farthest extremity, and walked across one field to climb the bank of
the far-famed Cowbit Wash. Here we met a good-natm'ed looking
fimner, named Dalton, whose field we had crossed, and whom, saluting
ns pleasantly, we ventured to ask if his good wife would supply us with
a drink of warm milk, and he told us to turn in and see. We were
well entertained in this comfortable homestead, which was pleasant to
look upon, the walls covered without with trimly kept ivy, and within
by a thick coat of salmon-coloured paint that would de^ the moisture
of the Washes. All else was bright and clean, and I was glad to think
this half dairy farm had not so keenly felt the firost of these bad times.
Mr. Dalton had seen many a winter, and told me of the Rufis and
Reeves that used to firequent this Wash, and other birds now all but
extinct as residents. In quantity he had seen as many wild-fowl as
could swim on an acre of wator. Opposite the house was a gunboat
turned upside down, it being no use now that all the birds are frozen
out, and in fact gone south. In some floods the water comes to the top
of the bank, being then about loft. on the Wash, which had now about
2ft. of water. Bidding good bye to our fnend, we steered a straight
course in a slanting direction to a point but dimly visible, about two miles
away. Crossing the Wash on the ice was most delightful, especially at
this point, where it is widest and the eastern bank has a gentle curve.
Looking over the top are seen for over a mile the houses and Church of
Cowbit. We came to the Welland, and, passing along it for two miles,
ascended the western bank, and, scrambling across one field, reached
the South Drove drain, up which we shot to its northern end, Pode
hole, where drains meet firom four directions. Looking along the
Counter Wash westward we found water over the sides and nearly meet-
ing in the middle, and as it was now past four, it seemed prudent to
steer eastward along Vematt's drain, where the water had not yet run
over, for Spalding, and we reached that station in time for the 5.0 train
for Boston. Next day, ** hurricane Tuesday," we were on the Witham
by 10 a.m. First thing we saw was a man with an axe hacking the ice
away round a pretty kx>king yacht. We were struck with the noble width
of the frozen-up river, and with the number of yachts, boats and vessels^

Geography and Travelling, 181

It was soon evident we were to be, like boats, driven with the wind.
I tried my plaid for a sail, but for a short time only, and quickly clewed
it in, as the speed felt frightful. With bare poles alone we sailed 12 to
15 miles an hour without striking a stroke. It was well enough where
the ice was smooth, but not so pleasant where the ice was rough, with
the certainty you must either rattle over it or come to grief, which I did
twice, till I was sore, and almost shuddered at the rougher passages. I
was but ill prepared, having a long heeled skate, of which I did not be-
fore know the disadvantage. A short sharp heel gives the only chance
of effective brake power. The river had frozen after the first snow, and
the latter snows were blown clean away, so that there were some splen-
did runs, but too often interrupted by cracks entirely across the river,
through which the water flowed, which gave a few yards of rough ice ;
in other parts it was rough from the floe ice not yet set by the frost ; and
there were numerous ferries, which had been kept open as long as possi-
ble ; but were all now closed except a few of the large horse-boat ferries.
Bridges are many miles apart, and these horse-boat ferries perform their
function. The finest bridge is Tattershall, which spans the river with a
wide lofty single arch, and is the approach to the Castle. Before reach
ing this bridge we encountered the only open water of the day. For-
tunately at this spot was a fisherman's house boat frozen in on the side
of the river, and seeing smoke, we turned in and chatted with the old
fisherman. He cautioned us strongly to hug the shore very close till we
had passed Sleaford Cut end, after which the ice would be strong again.
Sleaford canal, on the south side had nine locks, and Horncastle canal,
on the north side, had eight locks, each lock loft. Further down two
farmers joined us for about two miles, and these, with about half a
dozen others, (some of whom had come from Lincoln by the train to the
first station, to skate back with the wind), were the only parties we saw.
Trains seemed almost more numerous than men, — two or three passen-
ger trains each way, and several luggage. The rail is always near and
-often along the river bank, and my sons had rare fun in racing a goods
train and shooting past it. At Bardney the rail passes between the
natural river on one side and the navigation river which raises up one
lock on the other, and so close to the navigation side that the quarter^
mile rail posts gave an admirable opportunity for testing speed. The

182 Geography and Travelling,

wind, now at its greatest height, and blowing nearly in the direction of
the river, gave a rare chance for shewing what might be done by a pro-
fessional skater. My son, Samuel, skated one mile without a flying
start in about 2m. 42s., and on another trial half a mile in im. 17s.

We ran into Lincoln with a rush, but left it next day on the old Foss-
dyke at a snail's pace. Ice broken up by the ice-boat and frozen again,
very rough and sanded over, and, where not sanded, snowed over from
an inch to several inches deep. Wind blowing often against us, and
snow falling. Still we toiled on, and reached Torksey in a bitter snow-
squall. The Trent was open water, so we gave up the hope of reaching
Gainsborough, and made for the Stow Park station, four miles away,
along the snowed-up roads of the country. Alfred went on to York and
Samuel and I to Boston. The next day we took to the Black Dike, so
called at Boston end, but further down the South Forty-foot. We
found it Black dUts all the way, covered with sand and peat soil ; and
did not reach the Guthram engine at the further end, 21 miles off, until
5.30. The only incident was meeting a pleasant fellow, an elegant
skater, two miles from Donington bridge, who accompanied us there.
He, thinking the ice might be better the other side, passed under the
bridge, and, scrambling over some lighters quicker than we could, was
soon on the ice and as soon in up to his armpits, declaring we ought to
give him a vote of thanks ; which we did, wishing him well home after
his four miles of walk there. The stupid fellows on the bridge might
just as well have saved our friend his ducking by telling us it was a part
of the drain that never froze, owing to a hill stream entering the drain
about one mile south.

Further on the ice was sound, but bad as ever, so that for several
miles we found it quickest to walk, and were glad to reach the end,
cross the road, get on the bank of the river Glen, (here a noble river),
cross it by the railway bridge and reach the Counter Wash station ;
thence by rail, four miles to Spalding, and home that night.

The Black Dike was an unfortunate affair. Had the ice been good
my son Samuel would have gone to the race ran at Cowbit, and I to
visit the drowned part of the Bourn Fen. This flood occurred last
July, through the south bank of the Glen breaking. Nine miles were
at the time flooded, and I was told 2,000 acres are still under water.

Geography and Travelling. 183

We found that, with the exception of about half-a-mile between Pode
hole of the outward journey, and Guthram*s engine of the return journey,
and the trivial walks mentioned in the course of this letter, there was
skating ice from Nene to Trent.

Quod erat demonstrandum,

D. C. BURLINGHAM.

We are informed that the North Forty-foot and the
water courses which drain East and West fens, and
deliver their waters throu<];h Maud Foster Drain, and
also that which drains Wildmoor fen, and discharges
itself by Hobhole sluice, are good skating tracts.

Our remarks have been confined to the skating high-
ways of the Fens, but the canals of Englani afford facil-
ities for skating to those who live in proximity to them.
Some frionds of the writer, in the winter of 1860-1,
travelled along the Nottingham and Grantham canal,
thirty-two miles in length. There are other canals at
Nottingham, the present home of George Smart, the
champion, who will thus not be entirely without means
of keeping himself in practice.

A few general remarks may be usefiil here. The
foremost and fundamental enquiry, and that which
underlies all the rest, is what thickness of ice is requi-
site to sustain the reader ? Something depends on the
gravity or levity with which the enquiry is entered upon.
For a person whose weight lies between nine and four-
teen stones, the minimum thickness of ice over any
considerable depth of water should be two inches, and
at that thickness, should be good. This statement needs
to be taken strictly within its limitations. One inch-and-a-

181 Geography and Travelling.

half of ioe on a meadow orer a few inches of water will
afford mnch enjoyment to bojs, or even men, especially
if they are active enough, when they cat through, to
snatch their foot out of the hole without fallinc:. For-
ther, we do not at all mean that foarteen stones is a
maximum skating weight. There is no athletic exer-
cise, at which a fat man or a lady with a tendency to
embonpoint appears at such advantage as in skating.
It is on skates alone, that obesity becomes elegance and
ponderosity power, but, in such cases, the maxim,
"know thyself" is useful. Two inches of ice, however,
are insufficient when several persons skate in file, and
more especially where the ice ha£ been so much skated on
as to be split into triangular and polygonal pieces.
Under such circumstances, three or four inches are
requisite.

The next consideration is, when and where are we
likely to find the requisite two inches, or more, of ice.
In our boyish days, when we had a very rough and
ready method of arriving at facts without the intervention
of science, we used to say, that three nights' frost were
enough to give good sk£.ting. During those three
frosts, however, the thermometer ought at least to reach
10 degrees, Fahrenheit, below freezing point each night,
and it should freeze throughout the night. Two nights'
frost, in which the thermometer reaches 15 degrees, Fah-
renheit, below freezing point, will do quite as well, and
one night's frost, when the temperature drops down to
within a few degrees of zero, Fahrenheit, will cause all

Geography and Travelling. 186

open, stagnant, and not verj deep waters to bear.
From these data, derived from experience, no doubt some
equation might be constructed of time multiplied by the
intensity of the frost, on the one side, and the thickness
of the ice produced, on the other ; but, previous condi-
tions and a multitude of other things would modify the
calculation to such an extent, that any more definite
statement would be misleading. A very slight stream
makes a considerable difierence as to the readiness with
which water will freeze, and nearness to the springs which
feed the river, is another drawback to the empire of the
frost. Where there is a palpable current, as in the main
rivers traversing the fens, a succession of slight frosts is
of no service, and no progress is made, unless a frost of
about 16 degrees, Fahrenheit, sets the surface. Those
acquainted with the laws of radiation of heat find practical
demonstration of their theories in the fact that an over-
hanging bank, or tree, prevents the water beneath it from
freezing so firmly as the rest of the river. Hence, these
should be avoided as unlucky, on the same principle as
"gentlemen of the pavement" avoid going under ladders.
Bridges, however, cannot be avoided, nor can they be
circumvented, unless the traveller climbs up the bank^
and crosses the road, and passes down on the opposite
side. Bridges can, however, be shot^ when there is but
very thin ice beneath them. In this process tlie skater
takes a good start, and gets up a high speed to dash
through with, and at the same time lowers his body to
lighten his weight so as to make a half jump of it.

186 Geography and Travelling.

He can thus pass over twenty or thirty feet of very thin
ice. The writer has often done this to his complete
satisfaction, bat it is fair to state, that on one occasion,
he failed by finding the ice on the far side for a consi-
derable distance so weak, that he broke through, and
fell forward on to the edge of the thin ice, and split his
chin open. Another method of getting over places
where the ice is tender, is by crawling, or by lying down
on the ice, and being drawn across by a companion
with a rope. The weight is thus distributed over a
large surface of ice. The tail-piece preceding this
chapter, shows how a heavy man may be towed under
a bridge by the aid of a slimmer comrade who has passed
before him. Reeds, rushes, and all water weeds which
protrude above the surface, should be avoided, and also
the steam pumping engines which abound in the fens, for
obvious reasons. A ducking in ice-cold water is always
unpleasant, but, the danger of drowning is not very
great, if the water be stagnant into which the skater
plunges, and this is very generally the case in the Fen
country.

The idea of breaking through the ice, and then being
propelled by the impetus of the motion under its surface
is frightful to the imagination, but, it is scarcely ever
realised. For, if the ice breaks, it breaks into sheets,
which tilt up before the skater, and so effectually prevent
such a catastrophe. When once in the water, the skater
seizes by Instinct the edge of the ice, and experiences
considerable difficulty in finding sufficient hold of the ice,

Geography and Travelling, 187

or, enough resistance from the water, to draw or push
himself on to the surface. If, however, before making
the final efibrt, he gets his legs well back, gradually
lifts himself, and places his chest fiat on the ice, and
then stretches out his arms sideways, while he kicks out
as if swimming, he will generally succeed in wriggling
or crawling to a place of security. It is true he may
often have to repeat the experiment as the ice not unfre-
quently gives way again. But he will finally succeed.
If the ice be very rotten, he would do well to make his
efforts towards the shore, as he may have to break all
his way thither. In running water, the risk of drowning
is far greater, for, the unhappy victim will naturally
drift towards the down-stream side of the hole, and his
legs will be carried under the ice. The effort to get them
back again, and the struggle to get on the ic«, is very
exhausting, and if it fails, and he takes rest, his body
is again drawn under, and after repeated efforts the
numbing effects of the cold tell, all muscular effort
fails, and death is inevitable, unless help comes from
others. There lives in the native village of the writer, a
man who was discovered in this condition, holding to the
down-stream edge of the ice with his fast stiffening
fingers and chin, while his body was stretched out
beneath the ice. who was rescued from certain death
by a party of skaters returning from Huntingdon to
Houghton.

The greatest impediment to skating, next to the insuf-
ficiency of the firost, is a heavy fall of snow. An inch

188 Geography and Travelling,

of snow may be skated through without much inconve-
nience, though it adds to the labour of a day's march.
Two inches of snow, especially if the top stratum has
been thawed by the sun and refrozen, will fatigue in a
few hours all those capable of fatigue, and any greater
thickness constitutes an absolute bar to skating. It is
very desirable however, that those who love skating
should not be readily discouraged, or they will miss many
a fine day's sport. It is very seldom in our climate,
that snow absolutely bars locomotion on the ice. If there
is any wind while the snow is falling, it is almost always
carried off the ice, or one side of the river or drain,
has but little on it It is well after snow and
wind, to choose some water-course which runs parallel
with the wind, (as the chance of it being cleared is
greater,) rather than one which crosses its direction.
Very often, through some slight alteration of the level
of the water, the ice rises or sinks, and the water from
below, either runs over from the sides or oozes through
the crack in the middle, and a very slight frost consoli-
dates this thin layer of water, and so gives to the
skater the surface of fresh ice, with the security of the
old. Hence, though the snow is always a hindrance^
and time must be allowed for overcoming or circumven-
ting it, it hardly ever occurs, that an enthusiastic skater^
who is willing to walk now and then, and is not afraid
of a little labour, is prevented by it from making his
way along an ice highway. Very often, the difficulties
encountered, and the skill necessary for overcoming

Geography and Travelling, 189

them, are exciting and pleasarable. Another hindrance
to fen skating is a most vexatious one. It is caused by
the light soil being blown on to the ice. The traveller
sees before him a fine stretch of black ice, and promises
himself a glorious run, when suddenly, almost without
warning, he finds his foot hanging, as though he were
forcing his way over a blanket. The particles of fine
earth acted on by the sun sink into the ice, and then are
frozen there, and the consequence is, the ice loses all its
skating qualities, and, afler fighting his way over it for
a few hundred yards, the skater will prefer to walk.
This soil also soon blunts the skates. A curious pheno-
menon sometimes presents itself when the water has
flowed over the ice from the sides, and is stained with
the fen earth. This film of water, at a certain stage of
congelation, presents a surface which offers great resis-
tance to the steel of the skate, which appears to stick to
it ; but, whether this is due to imperfect consolidation,
or to the substance suspended, it is difficult to conjecture.
The tourist should beware of concluding because he has
found skating difficult in one day, from any of the
above-named causes, that he will find it the same in a
following day. Very slight difierences of sun or frost,
wiU convert a gritty or greasy surface, into a perfectly
delightful one. Hopefulness i& essential to the ice tour-
ist, and some of the finest days' enjoyment on skates we
have ever known have been after being jeered at, and
thought absurd, for supposing we oould find any avail-
able ice.

190 C^eography and Travelling,

*

CompanioDRy if thej be of aboat eqaal speed and
endurance, are highly desirable. So palpable is the
resistance of the atmosphere, that by skating in file,
and changing leaders, the labour is much lightened.
The danger from immersion is mnch diminished, and
consultation is oflen desirable. If the party contain one
cautious, and one venturesome member, and a cord is
entrusted to the keeping of the former, and the latter
has a stout hockey-stick, the combination is perfect.

The writer, in his boyhood and early youth, was
favoured by having in his expeditions on the ice two
companions, both older than himself, and both excellent
skaters, who severally possessed the qualities recom-
mended above. Both were excellent judges of ice
and its soundness, but, if they erred, the one always did
so on the side of adventure, and the other on the side of
caution. With a perversity which was, however, not
strange to account for, our cautious friend always carried
the stout hockey-stick, and, if the cord was not lefl at
home, it fell to the lot of our venturesome friend. This
latter gentleman was the most daring experimenter on
fresh ice, we have ever met with, yet singularly fortu-
nate withal. With a particularly easy and light, but
effective stroke, and of no great weight, he would slip
over an isthmus of ice, between an open water on the
one hand, and a bed of rushes on the other, where others
would certainly break through. Many a time, after
having crossed a suspicious-looking place with him, we
have heard the huge bandy of our cautious friend ring-

Oeography and Travelling, 191

ing on the ice, to try its safety. With these guides^
philosophers, and friends, we had many a pleasant day^
returning sometimes by sunlight, and sometimes by
moonlight, sometimes wet, and sometimes dry, but
always with the full glow of enjoyment upon us.

The Fen and the Fen folk are very hospitable, and
although there is perhaps not much refinembut, there is
plenty of good solid English cheer there. One of the
peculiarities of the Pen folk is, that having so much water
round about them, and having experienced the difficulty
of defending themselves against it, they are very chary
of admitting it into their systems, at least, in an
unadulterated state. If the tourist asks at any of the
little inns on the banks for water, milk, lemonade, tea,
or coffee, the hostess will probably gaze upon him with
unfeigned astonishment, if not with ill-concealed con*
tempt, and reply '' we don^tkeep such as them." These
people have a rough humour of their own too,
If you meet them after skating through the mist with
the rime in your whiskers, they will say, '^ Here 's a
man as started fresh, and has turned mouldy on the way."
A sturdy fellow looks over the bridge you are passing
under, and thus warns you of danger ahead. ^^ Hi I
Master, if you make a hole, you'll wet your clothes."
This however, is courtesy itself, when compared with
the rougher practical jokes of a generation past, for an
old skater assured us he once at nightfall, while skating
down Bf drain, pitched into an open hole cut for that
very purpose, and when he crawled out, saw a native

192 Geography and TraveUing.

on the other side of the bank, enjojing the fuiu Address-
ing a loud and angry remonstranoe to this joker, he was
met with, '^ Can't yoa be quiet, yon fool ? Don't yon
see there's another man coming?"

All owners of boats and barges have an inconvenient
habit of giving to their gunwales a fresh coating of tar
directly they become fixed in the ice.. This is the Fen
way of warning off, and is based on the opinion, that to
sit on a craft thus frozen in, injures its sides. As boats
and lighters so situated, are the most convenient resting
places for the tired skater, if unaware of the custom,
he is very likely, by sitting down, to become unfit for
any decent sedentary employment for the rest of the
day. Notwithstanding these little amenities, we have
found as hospitable homes, and as warm hearts in the
Fen, as in any part of the world.

We have, in these last paragraphs, dwelt on the
discomforts, difficulties, and dangers of skating. The
delights, however, far outweigh them, and these are
beyond our powers of description. It is a matter of
surprise and regret, that our poets who delight in the
expression of the most joyous emotions, have so seldom
dilated on this theme.

Thomson, in his ^' Winter " Season, has a spirited
description of a skating scene, but the scene is not
English, but Dutch,

** Now in the Netherland, and where the Rhine
Branched out in many a long canal, extends
From erery province swarming, void of care

Geograjihy and Travelling.

Batavla. rushes forth ; and as they sweep
On sounding skates, a. thousand different ways
In circling poise, swift as the winds along,
The then gay land is maddened all to joy."

It ia diaajjpoiiitinj;, that our Poet Laureate, whose
vivid and tt^thful descriptions of moorland scenery,
Bucli as are found in " The Lady of Shalott," entitles
him to be considered as, par excellence, the poet of the
fens, should have so neglected the pastime of skating ;
but is even moro vexatious, that the one passage we
are able to quote, is the following ;

" Till r, tired out
With cutting eights that day uf>on the pond.
Where, three times slipping from the outer edge
I bump'd the ice into three several stars."
Surely, he, who having the whole fen open to him,- is
content with " cutting eights " upon a " pond " deserves
to bump the ice into as many stars as are found in the
midnight sky. Byron sings of " some strong swimmer
in his agony," but we still lack a poet to describe
some swift skater in his ecstacy.

APPENDIX A.

RULES OF THE BLUNTISHAM and EARITH
SKATING HOCKEY CLUB.

I. The maximum distance between the goals shall be 220 yards,

and the goals shall be upright poles with tape or lath across at
the height of 7 feet. The maximum width of the goals to be
22 feet, but if sufficient ice is not available to get a length of
220 yards with a proportionate width, then the goals shall be
in the proportion of I foot wide to every 10 yards apart.

II. The hockey used shall not be more than 6 feet long, or more

than 3 inches wide or thick in any part.

III. The ball to be used shall be a solid india rubber ball with a

diameter of not more than 2^ in. and not less than 2^in.

IV. In commencing, the Umpire or one of the Captains shall throw

the ball straight up half half-way between the goals. At
half time and whenever a goal is obtained the players shall
change ends and recommence in the same way.

V. When a bye is hit, the goal-keeper shall hit the ball off within

6 yards of the goal posts, when no opponent shall be within
a distance of 12 yards in front of the goal lines, this being the
only restriction as to where the players shall stand, except
that no player shall persistently stand within a distance of 12
yards of an opponent's goal, thereby impeding the movements
of the goal-keeper.

IV. If the ball is hit off the ice or beyond that line which is con-
sidered the boundary, it may be picked up by the first comer
who must take it to the place from where it left the boundary
and he shall have a free hit from that point.

Appendices. 195

Appendix A continued.

VII. If the ball rises into the air it may be stopped by the body or

hand of the player, but if caught it must be dropped instantly
at the feet of the person who caught it, except in the case of the
goal -keeper, who shall have the liberty of throwing the ball
away from him.

VIII. The hockey may be used to catch, lift or bear down the hockey

of a player, but no player under any circumstances whatever to
be allowed to raise his hockey higher than his shoulder, and
any charging, holding with the hands or hockey, any tripping
or rough play of any sort to be peremptorily put down by the
Umpire or Captains.

IX. The full number on each side to be 15, but incase of short goals,

etc.. Captains to arrange the number as convenient.

X. To obtain a goal the ball must pass between the goal-posts and

under the tape.

XI. If any player throws or drops his hockey, an opponent may pick

it up and throw it away.

XII. No player to be allowed the use of more than one hockey at the

same time.

XIII. All players disobeying these rules after being once warned or

called to order by the Umpire or Captains may be prevented
from taking further part in the game.

FRED. JEWSON,
ARNOLD TEBBUTT

,}

Hon Secs,

APPENDIX B.

The following is a list of the principal Fen Rivers and
Drains. The numbers and letters placed next to the names
refer to their position on the map at pages 150, 151. In
some cases a rough estimate is given of the width in feet.
The remarks are made to give an idea of the nature of the
skating. The distances along the rivers, &c., will be found by
referring to the routes, <fec., in appendix C. Those already
well acquainted with the Fens, will doubtless consider that
much remains to be explained, and perhaps to be corrected,
but the information given may somewhat assist those who
are strangers to the district.

In Rmitc, II. Width in feet.

Cam above Cambridge, unfavourable 40
,, Cambridge to Bottisham, 7, N. Good with sharp frosts. 45
,, Bottisham to Denver Sluice, 7. 8, N to I. Good.

,, from 50 increasing belDw Ely to ... ... 100 and 120

Bottisham Lode, 7> -N^* ••• ••• ••• ••• ... 20

Swaflfham Lode; 7» N. ... ... ... ... ... 20

Reach Lode, 7» M. ... ... ... ... ... 20

Old West River, 6, 7, M. ... ... ... ... 30

Rampton Lode, 6, 7, M, (not shewn on map)

Willingham New Cut, 6, M. ... ... ... ... 16

Soham Lode, 7. 8, L, M.

River Lark or Mildenhall River, 8,9, L, M. Rarely frozen and
breaks up quickly.

Appendice$, 197

Appendix B continued. Width in feet,

Brandon Biver or l4ttle Oase, 8, 9, 10, K. Rarely frozen. ... 55

Lakenheath Lode, 9, K, L. ... ... ... ... 20

Sams Cut, 8, 9, J, K. Requires sharp frosts. ... ... ... 20

Stoke River or Wissey, 8, 9, J. Does not freeze readily.

Methwold Lode, 10, J.

River Nar or Setchey River, 9, 10, H. Never bears.

In HoutCf I,

Black Bank Drain, 7, 8, K. ... ... ... ... I2

Engine Drain, (Littleport and Downham District,) 7, 8, K. Good. 40
Great Ouse, above Bluntisham Lock, 3, 4, 5, M, N, navigable. Bears

in places with sharp frost, all with very severe frosts. 80
„ below Bluntisham Locks, Hundred-foot River, 6 to 8, L,
K, J. Tidal. Sometimes bears to Welney Suspension
Bridge ; Rarely to Denver Sluice. ... ... 80

„ below Denver S.^uice, never bears.
Old Bedford, Earith to Welches Dam, 6, L, K. i mile at S. unsafe,

rest good. ... ... ... ... ... 40

,, Welches Dam to Salters Lode Sluice, 7, J , K. Very good. 40
Crane Brook Drain, 5, L, (not shewn on map.) ... ... 12

Wash Drain (from Welches Dam to Welmore Lake Sluice,) 7, 8,

I y X^« ••• •»• ••• ••• ••• ••• WW

Counter Wash Drain, 6, K, L. Very good. ... ... ... 30

Well Creek, 7, 8, I. ... Good. ... ... 30 to 40

Tongs Drain (not shewn on map), not navigable. Good.

Wisbech Canal, 6, 7, H, L Good. ... ... ... 40

In Houtei III.

Chatteris Lode, 6, K. Fenton Lode, 5, L. Good, to Chatteris ... 20

then decreases to 6.
Ramsey High Lode, 4, K. Good ; at some places the sides do not

L/wAa ••• ••• *•• «•• ••• ••• jW

Holme Lode and Monk Lode, 4, K. Good. ... ... ... 20

198 Appendices.

Appendix B cowtinved. Width in feet ^

Forty-foot River or Vermoydens, 4, 5, 6, K. emtanked. Very good ;

Horse-way lo Sixteen-foot River not so good ... ... 40

Sixteen Foot River, 6, 7, J. K, embanked. Very good. ... 50

Middle Level Drain, 7. 8. H, I. Very good. ... ... ... 50

Drain from Forty-foot River to near Benwick, 5, K.

In Routcy IV.

Benwick River. 5, J,K. ... ... ... ... ... 50

Whittlesea and March or Old River Nene, 4 to 7, I, J. Good. ... 50

King's Dyke, part of Back River, 3, 4, J. Good. ... ... 45

Whittlesea Dyke, part of Back River, 4, J . ... ... • • • 35

March River, part of Back River, Old River Nene, 5, 6, 7, I, J. ... 50

Bevills Leam and Twenty-foot River, 4, 5, J. Good. ... ... 50

North East Cut, 4, J.

North West Cut, 3, J.

Conquest Lode, 3, J.

Yaxley Lode, 3. J.

Pophams Eau, West part, 7, L Good. ... ... ... 50

,, ,, East part, 7, I. Not so good but can be avoided by

using Middle Level Main Drain and Well Creek. 20

The wJi4)le of the above group of Middle Level Rivers afford the bent
fhating, in the Fens e^tpecially if frozen when the water ie low.

In Rtnites I. (and IV,)
Upwell River, Marmound Priory Sluice to Outwell Sluice, 7, 1. 20

In Route V.

Delph Dyke, 4, I, J, (not shewn in map)

Morton's Leam, Wash Way or Little River, 4, 5, I.

North Bank Counter (Nene) Drain, 4, 5, L bears sometimes
from Cross Guns to 3 miles W.

Nene, 4, 56, L Usually good skating, Peterborough to Cross

Guns ; rarely to Wisbeach.

Appendices, 199

Append t as B continued. Width in feet,

Thorney River, 4, I, the first to bear, quiet water. ... ... 25

Thorney Dyke, 4, 5, I, the first to bear, quiet water. ... 12 to 15

New Cut, 5, H, (not shewn on map) often fair skating but

uncertain. ... ... ... ... ... at N, 20

Old Wryde. 4, 5, 1, embanked, very uncertain ... at W. 12

New Wryde, 5, 1, embanked, good. ... ... ... 24

New South Eau, 4, 5, H. fairly good ... ... 151025

North Level Drain, 6, G, H, banks very high, 50 decreasing to W.
St. Jameses Drain, 4, H.

See detaolied Mivers, Appendix C,

South Holland Drain, 4, 5, 6, G. ... 15 increasing to 30.

South Drove Drain. 3, 4, G, H, ... ... ... ... 18

Counter Wash Drain, 2, 3, G, ... ... 18, increasing to 30

North Drove Drain, 3, G, ... ... ... ... 18

Vernatt*s Drain, 4, F. ... ... ... ... 20 to 30

Not in Appendix C,

Gold Dyke, 5, 1. Embanked. Rarely go;)d ... ... ... 11

Portsand Drain or Dowsdale Arm 4, H.

Cowbit Wash Drain, 3, 4, G, H. ... ... ... ... 20

River Welland, 2, 3, 4, G, H. Often bears Deeping to Spalding ; some-
times to the Glen.
Cross Drain, 3, H. ... ... ... ... ... 20

Inltimte VII.

Bourne Eau, 2, G. Sometimes freezes.

River Glen, 2, 3, 4, F, G. Sometimes freezes. ... 30 to 60

South Forty Foot Drain, 3, 4, 5, D, E, F, at S. 15, at N. 50

Hammond's Beck, 3, 4, 5, D, E, (not shewn on map) skatable.

Risegate Eau, 3, 4, 5, E^ (not shewn on map)

Clay Dyke, 3, 4, C, D.

North Forty Foot, 4, C, D.

300 Afpemdien.

Appendix S eomtimmtd.

Im Romtt r. Wldt\ im/eei.

SIcalbrd Canal, 2, 3, C. ... ... ... 501040

Billinghaj Skirt, 3« B, C. ... ... •*" — 201030

Wakoct Delph, 3. B.

Timberland Delph. 3, B ... ... ... ~. 2D

Mctheriogfaam Delph, 2. 3, A, B. ... ... ... ... 20

RiYer Witbam, i to 5. A to D. Bears from Boston to Lincoln. — 60

Homcastle Canal. 4, A. B.

Castle Drain or Long Drain, 4, 5. C, (not shewn on map)

Newham Drain, 4, 5, B, C.

Ho«rbridge and West Fen Drain, 4, 5. C. ... S. part 40

Frith Bank Drain, 5, C. •-. ... ... —. — 25

See detaeJted Rivers, Appendix C»

Maud Foster, 5, D.

West Fen Drain, 5, C.

Stonebridge Drain, 5« C. ... — ... ••• ..40

Cow Bridge Drain, 5. D. ... ... ... ... ... 40

East Fen Main Drain or Hobhole Drain, 5, 6, B, C, D. Good ... 40

Not in Appendix C,

Medlam Drain, 5, B, C.

Mill Drain, gcxxl 5, C, (not shewn on map) Good. ... ... 20

West Fen Catch water, 4, 5. B, C. Good, often bears. ... At N. 1$

East Fen Catchwater, 5, 6, B, C. Good, often bears. ... 15 to 20

Bellwater Drainy 6, 7, B. Good. ... ... ••• ... 15

Good Dyke. 6, 7, B, (not shewn on map) ... ... ... 12

Steeping River, 6, 7, A, B. Bears from Firsby Qoagh to two miles

iroui sea. ••< ... ... .«• ... ... 2^

APPENDIX C.

The Map of the Fen rivers, at pages 150-1, being too small to allow of
short distances being measured, ^'e give the following routes in detail.
The Branch routes are enclosed in brackets, thus [ ], and the sub-
branches thus [[ ]], and have a black mark down the side ; after which
we revert to the original routes. The measurements are given in
miles ; they must not be implicitly relied upon, being measured only
upon the Ordnance Survey Map of lin. to the mile. As short distances
are given as j-, ^, or f of a mile, the measurement between places near
together are not accurately shewn. The numbers not in brackets show
the distance apart of the places between which they stand.
The numbers in brackets, thus ( ), show the distance of the
places after which they stand, from the starting place of the
route, which is given in capitals. Thus :— Welney village and
bridge (27), 6 Old Bedford Sluire ne.\r Salter's Lode Sluice, (33) indicates
that Welney Village and the bridge are 27 miles from HUNTINGDON
which is at the head of the route, and that Old Bedford Sluice and
Salter's Lode Sluice are close together, and are 6 miles further on,
and therefore 33 miles from Huntingdon. Only the Railway Bridges
and the chief road bridges, and the more important Fen drains are
given. The measurements along any river will be found where the
name is given, in conspicuous type, thus — POPHAMS EAU.

ROUTE, I.

HUNTINGDON to WISBECH,

By Great Ouse, Old Bedford, Counter Wash
Drain, Old Bedford, Well Creek, and

Wisbech Canal.

HUNTINGDON Bridge, GBBAT OUSE, i, Hartford Ferry (i)
(A meadow on the S., sometimes flooded. Several meadows
on the N. from here to Witton, sometimes flooded.)

202 Appendices,

Appendix C continued,

if Houghton Locks (2|), \ Rail. Bridge Cs^, i Hemingford
Locks (4), ^ Rail. Bridge ... .*. ... ... (4J)

(Here to St. Ives ; a meadow on the S., sometimes
temporarily flooded )
I St. Ives' Bridge, then Rail. Bridge (sJ), \ Looks (5I),
\\ Kail. Bridge (7), i Holywell Ferry (8), \\ Overcote
Ferry (9J), i Brownshill Staunch (loj), i Rail. Bridge ... (iii)

(Bury Fen on N.W. is generally flooded.)

1 Earith, Old Bedford, Nine Holes, (really seven holes) sluice (12J)

[Continuing alon;; Great Ouse J, Old West River, Hermit-
age, Earith Bridge Station, Suspension Bridge. HXTN-
DBEDFOOT river begins (I2f), 3I Sutton Bridge
(16J), i:^ Mepal Bridge {\^\)\{\ walk to the W. is Counter
Wash Drain), 6 Rail. Bridge (23I) ; (2 walk W. to
Manea Station) ; \ Engine on S. E. bank, EngiHC Drain

(24i)
[[over bank ENGINE DRAIN, or Littleport District

Drain, 3 Black Bank Drain (27J) N. along BLACK
BANK DRAIN i^ Littleport (28^).]]
2 J Welney Suspension Bridge (27) ; (f walk W. along

road to Welney Village and Old Bedford River) 6, a mile

or two of which are sometimes ukatable, Denver Sluice

and Salter's Lode (33).]

\ Along upper part of OLD BEDFORD (this piece is
rarely safe); COUNTER WASH DRAIN begins over
the W. bank ; Sluice at end of Cranebrook Drain (i3i).

I [along CRANEBROOK DRAIN (^2 j) Somersham road
(15^) turn to left i Somersham Station and Village (16^)]

2 the Gullet, a deflection in the drain (15^), I Sutton Gault
Bridge (16J), i^ Mepal Bridge (i7i), 3 J (here Counter Wash
Drain runs into the lower part of OLD BEDFORD), Welches

Appendices^ 20S

Appendix C oontinued.
Dam, Forty-Foot River ... ... ... ... (21^

I [Along Forty-Foot River, Locks 2\ Sluice (23J), | Horse-
way Bridge (24) \ Sixteen-Foot River, S. end (24 J). ]

i Purls Bridge (2i|) 2 Rail. Bridge (23}), (ij walk W. to Manea
Station) 3^ Welney Village and Bridge (27), 6 Old Bedford
Sluice near Salter's Lode Sluice (33), over bank on W. along
WELL CREEK, 2 Nordelph ; S. end of Tong's Drain,
Popham*s Eau E. end (35), 2, here passing over Middle Level
Drain by Aqueduct (37), i^ Outwell Bridge, Old River, Nene (38J)>

[Along Old River Nene or UPWELL &IVEB, i
Upwell Bridge (39i), ij Marmound Priory Locks
(40 J) I J Popham's Eau, W. end (42 J).]

Along WISBECH CANAL, Lock i Scott's Bridge (390.
i Bridge (39!), i Emneth Bridge (40!), I Elm Bridge (41 1),
\ New Common Bridge (42), J Rail. Bridge (42I), under two
TownBridges |, Wisbech Locks, River Nene ... ... (43^^

ROUTE, IL

CAMBRIDGE to DENVER SLUICE.

By the Cam, Sandell's Cut, and Old Ouse (these
may no>^ all be called the Cam.)

CAMBRIDGE, Town Bridge \ Locks (i), f Rail. Bridge (2),

i^ Bait's Bite Locks (3^), 2| Locks, Bottisham Lode ... (60

{[BOTTISHAM LODE Locks 2^, Bottisham Mill (8|)
I liQuy(io).]

204 Appendices,

Appendix C continued.
i| Swaftham Lode .«• ... ... ... ... (7^)

I [SWAEFHAM LCDE Locks 3^, SwalTham Mill (lof)]

2 Upware, Burwell and Reach Lode ... ... .. (9^)

I[BUBWELL & BEACH LODES, Locks f, here
lode divides (lo^, Burwell (13), Reach Wharf (12^). J

3J Old West River ... ... ,., (i2f)

rOLD WEST &IVE&, i Rail. Bridge (13^), 2^ Stret-
ham Bridge ( 1 5I), ij Twentypence Ferry, Kampton Lode

(I7i).
[[over S Bank &AMPTON LODE, Engine 2 Gotten-

ham (i9i), i^Rampton (2o|:).]]
3 Aldreth Bridge (20J), 2 New cut (22J).
[[over S. bank WILLINGHAM NEW CUT, Engine

2 Willingham (24J).]]
3^ Hermitage. Earith Bridge Station. Suspension Bridge

(25I), i Old Bedford. Earith (26^).]

\ Thetford Ferry (13), J Soham Lode ... ... (13 J)

(^Ilere on the E, niore direct accetts may he had by F»n Drains to
Priohwillow, and to MUdenluUl ^ miles nearer tlian by the r iters,')

I [SOHAM LODE 4, Soham (i;^, 3^ Fordham (21),
3 CHIPPENHAM PARK (24).]

2 Ely Bridge, near Station (isj), J Ely Rail. Bridge (16), i\
Sandeirs Cut begins .. ... ... ... ... (i7i)

^ Rail. Bridge and Queen Adelaide Bridge ... ... (17})

Appendices, 205

Appendix C eontinved.
if The Branch ... ... ... ... ... (19^).

[along The BRANCH | here The LA&K or Milden-
hall River (20^), ij

Prickwillow Bridge (21J), 6 Isleham Ferry (27J), f river
divides (28^), [[along Freckenham branch 2, Freckenham
(3oD> 2 miles walk to Chippenham Park,]] 3 Mildenhall

(31D]

IJ Littleport (20J), I Littleport Bridge ... ... ... (211)

3i Little Ouse, or Brandon River ... ... ... (25)

[BRANDON RIVER, 5i Lakenheath Lode (30I),
[[LAKENHEATH LODE, Sluice, ^ Rail. Bridge

(S'i)* 2} Lakenheath (34).]]
7i Brandon (38^).]

I Southery Ferry (26), 3 Sams Cut ... ... ... (29)

([SAMS CUT, Lock, i Modney Bridge (30), 6 (36),
near Feltwell ]

i Rail. Bridge. Hilgay Station (29J), J Stoke River or
Wissey ... ... ... ... ... ... (30)

[THE WISSEY, 6i Methwold Lode (36i).J
[[METHWOLD LODE 3 to road (39!) near Methwold ]]
2 Stoke Ferry (38|).J

I Denver Sluice. Great Ouse ... ... ... ... (31)

ROUTE in.

HOLM STATION to MARSHLAND SLUICE,

By New Dyke, Old River Nene, Forty-Foot

River, Sixteen-Foot River, and

Middle-Level Main Drain.

HOLM Station, G.N.R., ij Monk's Lode ... (ij)

I [MONK'S LODE 2|, G.N.R. Rail. Bridge (4D-]

206 Appendices.

Appendix C continued,

I Raveley Drain (2J), J Rail. Bridge Old River Nene (3), J

St. Mary's Bridge and Station (3 J), 2 J Ramsey High Lode ... (6)

1 [BAKCSET LODE i, Ramsey Station (7).]

i Bodsey Toll Bridge (6^), f Here FOBTT-FOOT
Rivei' liegins, and we leave the Old River Nene here called
Benwick River ... ... ... .. ... ... (7)

I[BENWICK BIVEB, 4 Benwick (11), i Cop
Alder (12), ij Flood's Ferry (13J).]

^ Forty-foot Bridge (7^), 2| Puttock*s Bridge, drain to Benwick (loj)
I [if along DBAIK (12) to near Benwick.]

2 Carters Bridge (12^), (2 mile walk to Chatteris Station)

^ Rail. Bridge and Chatteris Lode ... .. ... (13)

[CHATTEBIS LODE, f Chatteris; here drain is
tunnelled in (13I), js drain reappears. Railway Station
(I4i),4l end of FENTON LODE (19), about U
walk to Warboys.]

«

if Sixteen Foot River, which we follow .. ... ... (14J)

I [Along to end of FOBTY-FOOT River, \ Horseway
Bridge (15), i Sluice (15!), 2^ Welchs Dam (18).]

Along SIXTEEN-FOOT River, 2I Boots Bridge (17^),
i^ Stonea Railway Bridge and Station (19;. I Bedlam Bridge
(20), 4:^ Three Holes Bridge then Popham's Eau (24^), ij
Bridge (25^), J here go under Well Creek (26J), MIDDLE
LEVEL MAIN DBAIN (omitting many Bridges), 5 Rail.
Bridge ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• ••• C3^^

2| (site of Old Syphons,) (34!) i Eau Brink Cut ... ... (34!)

Appendices,

207

Appendix C continued.

ROUTK, IV.

STANDGROUND (1 mile from Peterboro') to
SALTERS LODE SLUICE,

By King's Dyke, Whittlesea Dyke, Old River
Nene, Popham's Eau, and Well Creek.

STANDGROUND Sluice, along SING'S DYKE, I
Horsey Sluice, Old River Nene

[Along Old River Nene, ij Farctt (2i), J Conquest
Lode End (dammed), (3J) J Rail. Bridge (4J), ^ Yaxley
and Yaxley Lode (4 J)

2j Rail. Bridge (34) i Whittlesea (4^), i AshHne Sluice (4^), i
Rail. Bridge and Station (4I)

here called WHITTLESEA DYKE, 2\ Angle Bridge.
Twenty-Foot River

[N. along TWENTY-FOOT River, i Rail. Bridge (8).

4^, here is small drain (12)).
[[along small drain i to Counter Wash Drain and Washes

(i3i)» 4 walk to Guyhim Station.]]
[i Hobbs Lots Bridge (i30« i Rail. Bridge and Station

(14 J) I Chain Bridge and then Rail. Bridge (I5i), if end

of Twenty-Foot River. Old River Nene (17).]
[S. along BEVILLS LEAM 3^, Ponds Bridge (16^),

i\ site of old Whittlesea Mere, here River divides, (ilj).]
[[to the S. 2i Nightingale Corner, Old River Nene (14^)]]
Along NORTH EAST CUT, Bridge i^ Conquest

Lode (I3i),
[[CONaXTEST LODE, i| Dam, Old River Nene (i4i)

near Farcet.]]
Here NOBTH WEST CUT i then YAXLEY LODE

(14}^, ij to end of Old River Nene (16) near Yaxlty.J

(I)

(7)

208 Appendices.

Appendix C continued,

m

3i Floods Ferry. Old River Nene or Benwick River ... (io|)

[2J Benwick (12^)]
i^ Blackfriars Bridge (iii), Z\ March (15), here called
KARCH KIVEB, | Rail. Bndge (15)). li Twenty-Foot
River, E. end (17^), li W. end of Popham's Eau, here leave
old River Nene ... ... ... ••• ... (18})

If Along Old Nene ij, Marmoond Priory Sluice (20J}, ij
Upwell (22), I Outwell (23). ]

Along POPHAMS EAU, li Bndge (2o|), \ joins Middle
Level Main Drain (near Three Holes Bridge) (21), J N along
the River, come to the E. part of Pophams Eau (21 J)
2i Dam at E. end of Popham's Eau, Nordelph, Well Creek (24)
(walk over dam) along Well Creek 2 Salters Lode
Sluice; River Ouse ... ... ... ... ... (26)

ROUTE V.

NORTH LEVEL SLUICE (Sutton Bridge,
Lincolnshir.5,) to PETERBORO.*

By North Level Drain, New Wryde, Old Wryde,
New Cut, River Nene, or Nene Washes.

River Nene, (2J from Sutton Bridge) NORTH LEVEL SLUICE
at Tydd along NOBTH LEVEL DBAIN, i Kailway
Bridge and Station and Inner Sluice (J), | Tydd Gote Bridge
(1), i Hannaths Bridge (i^), J Kirkgate Bridge (2), i Tydd
Bridge (3) i Bridge (3D 2} Bridge (6^) \ Harold Bridge (6J).

Appendices,

209

Appendix C continued
i Johnsons Bridge (6|-) \ Bxidge (7) i^ Bridge ; Clow*s Cross Sluice (8^)

W along NEW SOUTH EAT7 or French Drove Drain
i Bridge (8^) J Coles Bridge (9i) i Rail. Bridge and
Gedney Hill Station (loi) ij Baileys Bridge (12) i ?
Drain from Cowbit Wash (? St. James Drain) here joins
New South Eau (13) [[along this Drain 5 Brother-house
Bar on the Cowbit Wash (18)]] ij; Nomans Landhirn,
End of New South Eau (14I) 2 (part of which can
be skated on dykes) to Crowland (i6i).]

At Clow's Cross turn S. along the NEW WBIDE \ Parson
Drove Bridge (8|-), I Bridge at turn near Murrow (Mid. R.)
Station (9^) J Rail. Bridge near Murrow (G. N. R.) Station (lo^-)
I Bridge (iii) J end of New Wryde

(12)

[W through Sluice along OLD WBYBE J through
Plantation where it seldom freezes, Rail. Bridge (I2i)
i Bridge (I3i) I Rail. Bridge (14*) i* Thorney (15^).

Continuing S from end of New Wryde through Rail. Bridge
along drain called NEW CUT, I mile, Boarden House and
Bridge (13) i^ Knar Cross, Thorney Dyke on W ... (i4:J)

[Along THORNEY DYKE 4^ Thorney River and Stone
Bridge (i8i) cross Thorney River and continue W. 2
Willow Hall (20J).]

\ Cross Guns, River Nene, and Ferry, the New Cut here turns

W and becomes the ... ... ..• ... (14^)

O

210 Appendices.

Appendix C continued,

EKOBTH BANK C0T7NTEK DRAIN you can skate
W on it perhaps 3 miles (17^), it continues past Dog in
Doublet, nearly to Peterboro', bnt is unskatable ]

[From Cross Guns Sj E along Nene (to about \ mile short
of Guyhirn Rail. Bridge) (17I) cross the Wash, Mor-
ton's Learn and South Bank \ to SMALL DRAIN
marked on map (17^) I mile along Small Drain to
Twenty-foot River (18 J). Then either along Twenty-
foot River Eastward 4^ to the Old River Nene (23) and
March (25).

Or along Twenty-foot W to Whittlesea Dyke and Whittlesea
(26 J), see Route 4.]

From Cross Guns 4i W along the NENE (or Wash if flooded)
Dog and Doublet and Bridge .. •• .. ••• (19)

N along THORNEY BIVEK through locks and over
Counter Drain i Thorney Dyke and Stone Bridge (2o) 2^
Thomey and Stone Bridge (22J) \ under Railway by
Station, Old Wryde (221) 2^ along small skatable drain,
Noman's Land Hirne (25) 2 (only part of which
distance may be skated,) Crowland (27).]

S along DELPH DYKE i to Whittlesea (20).]

Continue along the Nene 4 Bridge (23) \\ Peterboro* Bridge... (24^)

N.B, — Jf it is found at the Cross Owns that the Nene does not hear
cross the Ferry and the Wash to Morton's Learn.

The follomng Routes, No. ^ dc 7^ were used hy Mr, Burling^
ham, in his joumies from StUton Bridge to Lincoln and back,

ROUTE VL

LINCOLN TO BOSTON by RIVER W^ITHAM,

LINCOLN. BIVEB WITHAM, ^ Rail. Bridge (i),
2 Ferry and Washingboro' Station (2J), 2 J Five Mile
Station. (5)

Append'ijcei. 211

Appendix C etmtinued,
2i Bardney Locks and Rail. Bridge ... ... ... (8^)

I [Drain from Lincoln running parallel to the Witham here
joins the River. ]

i Bardney Ferry and Station (8t) 2 here on W. Nocton Delph
joins the river (loi) ^ Southry Ferry and Station (ii^), ij
Metheringham Delph .. ... ... ... ... (13)

|[METHEBINGHAM DELPH, (shewn, but not
I named in map) 3^ to end of artificial cut (16-^).]

i Stixwold Ferry and Station (i3i), 2^

Kir^cstead Ferry and Station, Timberland Delph ... ... (i5i)

I[TIMBEBLAND DELPH (shewn, but not named in
map) 3 to end ef artificial cut (18^) ]

2\ Walcott Delph ... ... ... ... ... (17})

I[ WALOOTT DELPH (shewn, but not named in map)
3 to Car Dyke (2o|) near Walcott.]

I Tatiershall Canal .. ... ... ... (i8|)

[TATTEB8HALL CANAL, i Locks (19), \ Rail.
Bridge (19^)' J Tattershall and Bridge (20), J Coningsby
(20i)» i bridge and lock (2oi), f lock (2ii), J look (22 J)
I Halten Beck here comes in (23^), ^ Kirkby Super
Bain (23!), \ lock (24), \ bridge (24^), \ lock (24^),
Houghton Lock (25^), } Alderby Bridge and Lock (26^),
i Martin Lock, (27), | lock (27i), bridge i, lock (28), f
Horncastle Station (28}).]

^ Billinghay Skirt ... ... ... ... ... (19)

[BILLIVGHAY 8KIBT, (.shewn, but not named
in map) I N. end of Twenty* foot Drain (20), i^
Billinghay (2ii), 3i Sleaford Canal (24I).]

i Tattershall Bridge (X9i), } Dog Dyke Ferry and Station
(within i of the end of West Catch Water Drain), River

212 Appendices,

Appendix C continued,

Bsiin ••• ••• ••• • • ••• ••• (20^^

I[BIVEB, BAIK (not shewn on map) \ Tattershall,
here becomes part of canal.]

} Here on E. is W. end of Howbridge Drain (21 J), J Kyme

Eau or Sleaford Canal ... ... ... ... (2i|)

[SLEAFOBB CANAL, \ (a small ditch at S. connects
with N. end of Forty-foot Drain.) Twenty-Foot Drain
at N. (22).

[[TWENTY-FOOT BBAIN, (not shewn on map) 1}
Billinghay Skirt (23!)]].

f Drury Dyke (22f), \ lock (23), \ Kyme Lower Lock
(23i), » Damford Tunnel (N. end of Clay Dyke) (24^),
i\ South Kyme (25 J), ij Heckington Tunnel, N. end
of Midford Car Dyke (27), 5f Dyers Mill (32I)
f Coggleford Mill (33^), J Sleaford (34!).]

5 Langrick Ferry and Station (26I), 2 Anton's Gout. ; Castle
Dyke and Newham Dyke come in, having been united for \.
Alsa Frith's Bank Drain runs £. ... ... ... (28))

[CASTLE DYKE (not shewn on map) }. Newham
Drain here branches off (29), 6 How-bridge Drain (35)]

[NEWHAM BBAIN (shewn without name on map)
J, Castle Drain here branches to W. (29), 2\ Stephenson's
Bridge, her* drain crosses, called West Fen Drain, East-
ward, and How- bridge Drain, Westward (3i4)>

[[HOW-BBIDGE BBAIN (shewn without name on
map), 2 W. end of Sandbank Drain (33^) I N. end of
Castle Dyke (34i)» 2 close to River Witham (36^) as
given before at (20^)]], 2 Sandy Bank Drain (33i)

I bridge (34 J) runs about I further N.] •

[FBITH BANK DBAIN runs E, i| to lock and level
into West Fen Drain (shewn without name on map)
(30J), water runs N. along West Fen Drain ^, and thus
joins with it through lock and under Stonebridge Drain.]

Appendices. 213

Appendix C, continued,
2\ Boston Sluice and Rail. Bridge ... ... .«. (sof)

ROUTE VII.

BOSTON to BOURNE,

By South Forty-Foot and Bourne Eau,

BOSTON, along SOUTH FOBTY-FOOT DKA.IN,

Black Sluice and Rail. Bridge } North Forty-Foot ... ... (i)

[NOBTH FOBTY-FOOT, i end of cut drain (i^), i
Benton's Bridge (2). I^ Toft Tunnel (3 J), 4 Holland Fen
Church (7i), 2\ Chapel Hill Hirne, end of Twenty-Foot
Drain (10), f along ditch to Sleaford Canal (lof ) ]

2 Hammond Beck ... ... ... ... ... (1}

[HAMMOND'S BEOK z\. Old Hammond's Beck (4^),

i\ The Skirth (sJ).]
[[Along the Skirth, i N. to the South Forty-Foot at Skirth

Bridge (6J).]]
i Swineshead Bridge (6J), 4} Donninton Bridge (n),

3i Risegate Clough (i4i)']

2\ Hubbard Bridge and Station (3i), i\ Clay Dyke ... (4!)

I[OLAY DYKE, Rail. Bridge 5^ Damford tunnel.
Kyme Eau or Sleaford Canal (io|).]

f High Bridge and Swineshead Station (6|), Si Donnington
High Bridge (12^), (i along here rarely freezes), 3I Risegate
£au on E. ... ... ... ... ... ... (16)

([BISEGATE EAU, 1} Risegate Clough, Hammond's
Beck (I7i), 7i River Welland (25).]

4Ji Bridge near River Glen, Guihram*s Engine, end of South
Forty-foot (20J) along the BIVEB GLEN or Small Drain
by its W Bank, i Rail. Bridge near Counter Wash Station (21^).

214 Appendices.

Appendix C oonthiued

If Bourn Eau along (23^) B0T7BN' EAT7 3^, Bourn ... (26O

f walk to Station.

Rivers detached from the preceding routes.

SOUTH DBOVE DBAIN from CROSS DRAIN, ij^
Rail. Bridge (ij), S\ Rail. Bridge (6f), i\ Rail. Bridge
(8). Pode Hole. Engine lifts water into Vernatt's Drain.

C0T7NTEB DBAIN (shewn without name on map), near
R. Glen, from CROSS DRALV 3J, Counter Drain Station
and Rail. Bridge (3f), 2^ Pode Hole. Here runs into
Vernatt's Drain ... ... ... ... ... (6)

NOBTH DBOVE DBAIN, from CROS«^ DRAIN, 5J,
North Drove Station and Rail. Bridge (5i)» h Pode Hole
(6), Engine lifts water into VEBNATT'S DBAIN,
2\ Bridge and Rail. Bridge (8i), 4 River Glen ... (12 J)

SOUTH HOLLAND DBAIN, from Cowbit Wash. St.
Guthlac's Cross. BROTHERHOUSE BARR, i^ Rail.
Bridge (li), 2\ Whaplode Bank (3!), 5 Raven Bank (Sf),
SJ Rail. Bridge (14^), \ Sluice, River Nene ... ... (15)

\ walk to Sutton Bridge Station.

The above detached Rivers, Drains, <kc.y were either in part
usedy or are referred to in Mr. Burlingham^ s letter ^ page 176.

BIVEB NENE, Peterboro' to Wisbech.

PETERBORO* Bridge Sk ^^g and Doublet (5i), 4)
Cross Guns (9I), 3^ Rail. Bridge (13), 3^ Three Horse
Shoe Ferry (i6f), t Wisbech Bridge (i8f)

MOBTONS LEAM, STANDGROUND Sluice, \ Rail.
Bridge (i), Sh Delph Dyke (6), \ New Cut (6^), 6 Rail.
Bridge, near Guyhim Station ... ... ... (12^)

Appendices* 2 1 5

Appendix C continued.

GOLD DYKE (S part only shewn on map), (near Cross

Guns), 2\ to the Old Wride, 2^ Stone Bridge ... (4^)

EAST FEN MAIN DBAIN or HOBHOLE DBAIN
HOBHOLE SLUICE at the mouth of the River Witham, i\
Nuns Bridge ( I i), ^Fishtoft Bridge (if), i Freston Bridge
(2t), J bridge (3J), ^ Cloughs Corner, here Cowbridge
Drain joins on W. (3I), ij Ing*s Bridge (5), ih Benning-
ton Bridge (6^), f bridge (7J), i Rail. Bridge and Old
Leake Station (7i), i bridge (8), i Lade Bank Bridge (9),
I J Bridge (loj), J Bellwater Bridge (ii). Drain runs north-
ward to near East Fen Catch Water.

COW B&IDOE DBAIN (shewn, but not named in map).
CLOUGHS CORNER at East Fen Main Drain, 2 Rail,
bridge (2) \ passes under Stone Bridge Drain (2J) ^ lock,
where West Fen Drain runs in.

WEST FEN DBAIN Sluice by Aqueduct f. Mill Drain on
the E. (f ), Mount Pleasant. Medlam Drain joins in sam^
line from the N. West Fen Drain turns to N.W. (if), 2 J
Stephenson Bridge. Drain continues as Howbridge Drain ;
here Needham Drain crosses ... ... ... (4^)

MAT7D FOSTEB. Boston Mount Bridge, 2^ to W. end of
Frith Bank Drain (2^), i Aqueduct (2}) ; here continues
as Stone Bridge Drain.

STONE BBIDGE DBAIN. Aqueduct i, Stone Bridge
(i), I J Hale Bridge (2J), ij Junction of East and West
Fen Catch Water Drains ... ... ... ... (4)

>^fe«-»

I NDEX.

Page.

Age for learning ...

• ■ •

lOI

Amateur Champion

54, i6i

„ Champion (Cambridge)

• • •

53

,*, Champion (London)

54

Amsterdam

• • •

12

Analysis of Scratch

114

Angood of Chatteris

• • •

41

Antiquity of Skating

25

Arms, Swinging ...

• • ■

io6, 119. 125

Arrangements, Race Course

60, 68

Association National, Effects of

• • ■

20

., „ Object of

2

„ ,, Racing Rules

• • •

21

Attitude of Skaters

6, 107. 113

Attention to Skating Grounds

■ •«

126

Ayres of VVelney

43

Ayres and Gittam, Race

• • •

43

Back River

*
174

Ball, Hockey

• • •

140

Bandy (see Hockey)

Bardney

• • •

181

Barnes of Ben wick

49

Barnwell, Cambridge

• • •

158

Barrels

68

Barrel and Flag ...

• • •

76

Bedford River, The old ...

9, 43, 168, 171

„ „ „ Description of ...

• • •

171

Bedford, Skating at

165

Bell at Races

• « •

70

Bending. Ice

138

Benwick, River at

• • •

174

Berry J. of Ramsey

41

p Description of

• • •

47

Bevills Leam

174

Bicyclist, Speed of

• • •

59

Black Board at Races ...

70

Index.

217

Black Dyke (Boston)

• • • • • •

Paze.
182

Bluntisham ...

• • • • • •

1^8, 17s

,, Hockey Players ...

• • • • • •

148, 167

1, Stanch

• • • • ■ •

156

„ Station

• • f • • «

169

Bluntness of Skates

• • • • • •

97

Bone J. F., Spalding

• • t « • •

SI

Bone Skates

• • • • • ■

26

Boots, Size of

• • ■ • • ■

84

„ Suitable

• • • • « •

85

Boston ... ...

• • • • • •

156

Boston to Lincoln

• • • • • •

i8ot 182

Bottisham

• • ■ • • •

164

,, Lock

• • • • • •

159, 160

Bourn Brook (Cambridge)

• • • • • •

157

,, Eau, Skating on ...

• • • • • •

178

,« r en ... ...

• • • • • •

182

Bradford of Farcet

• • • • • •

\i

Brandon

• • • • • •

162

Brandon Biver, Description of

• • • • • •

163

Breakage of Ice ...

• • • • ■ •

138

k Brotherhouse

• • ■ • • •

177

Brown, N. and J. of Isleham ...
Burlingham's Mr. D.C. Letter

• • « • • •

162

• • • • • •

179

,f vHX* o. O. ...

• it • ■ •

179

Burgess of Whittlesea . . .

• • • • • •

41

Bury Fen

• • • • • •

148

„ „ Description of

• • • • • •

• 168

Butcher cf Soulhery

• • • • • •

47

Buying Skates

• • • • • •

73

Cam, The River ...

• • • • ■ •

15s

„ Description of the

• ■ • • • •

156, 164

,, Journey on the

• • • ■ ■ •

158

Cambridge

• • • • • •

175

• , AmCe ... ...

• ■ • • • •

50. 53

„ to Ely

• • • • • •

158

,, to Harrimere

• ■ • • • •

161

Canada, Skating in

• • •

• • •

12

Carter H. of Welney

• • • t • »

51. 166

Carters Bridge, Race at

• • • • • •

39»42

Carter v, Watkinson (Race) ...

■ ■ ■ • • •

166

"Cats-ice" ...

• • • • ■ ■

168

Cave of Sutton (Racing-man)

• • • • ■ ■

4i»44

Chair, Skating

• • • • • •

136

Chairs

• • • ■ • •

102, 135

Champion, Amateur Description ol

• • •

54

Championship ., (Cambridge)

• • • • ■ •

53

,, „ (London)

• a ■ •• •

54

218 Index.

PsLgt.

Chatteris ... ... ... ... 171, 174

,, Journey to ... ... ... 174

It X layers ••> ... ... ... I4<'

,, Race near ... ... ... 39, 42

Chatteris 17. March (Race) ... ... ... 46

Charles, J. t? Young (Race) ... ... 44

Charles, (Racing-man) ... ... ... 44

Children, Skating ... ... ... loi

Choosing Skates ... ... ... ... 80

Christiana, Skating at ... ... ... 12

Clow's Cross ... ... ... ... 176, 177

Cockle T. of Hilrow ... ... ... 47

Collins of Soham ... ... ... ... 51

CoUison of Nottingham ... ... 51

Colours worn by Racers ... ... ... 69

Company of Sweepers ... ... ... 127,133

Cord carried by Skaters ... ... 190

Cottenham ... ... ... ... 161

Cottenham Players ... ... ... 148

Counter Wash Station ... ... ... 182

Counter Wash (Welland) ... ... ... 180

Counter Drain (Glen) ... ... 178

Counter Wash Drain (Nene) ... ... 176

Counter Wash Drain (Ouse) ... ... 171,172

Courses, Crowds on ... ... ... 138

Length of ... ... ... 68, 70

it

Planning ... ... ... 128

(Race) Arrangement of ... ... 60, 68, 70

Sweeping ... ... ... 127

Width of ... ... ... 68, 129

Course Keeper at Races ... ... ... 70

Cowbit ... ... ... ... 177, 180

Cowbit Wash, Description of ... ... 177. r8o

Cracked Ice ... ... ... ... 138

Croft, Mr. ... ... ... ... 42

Cross J. -p. J. Smith (Race) ... ... 50

Cross Thos. of Ely ... ... ... 55

Cross Drain ... ... ... 178

Crosi Guns, The ... ... ... ... 176

to Clows Cross ... ... 176

>i i»

Cross Drain near the Welland ... ... 178

Crowland ... ... ... ... 177, 179

,, Men of ... ... ... 3^

,, Race at ... ... ... 3^

Crate Mr. C. ... ... ... ... 54

Currents, effects on Ice ... ... ... 185

Dalton Mr. ... ... ... ... 180

Dann (Racing-man) ... ... ... 5^

Index.

219

rage.

Dangerous Ice

.•• »

• • •

138

Deeping

• ••

156

Deeping Fen, Main Drain

• • •

178

Degrees of Frost

• • •

• ■ •

158

Denver

• • •

175

„ Sluice

• • •

• a •

163, 170. 175

„ Sluice to Cambridge ...

• • •

159

„ Sluice to Earith

• • •

• • •

9

„ Sluice and Ely, Journey

• ■ •

163

Devils Dyke

• • •

• • •

160

Dewsberry A. of Oxlode

• • •

51

Digby Mr. J. D. ...

• • •

• • •

I

Division of Prize Money

• • •

66

,, of Race Course

• ■ •

« • •

61

*• Dog in a Doublet, '* The

• • •

176

Doningtcn Bridge

• • •

• « •

182

Downham Bridge

• • •

163

Drake of Chatteris

•Mt

41

„ Francis (Racing-man)

• • •

• • •

38

„ John of Chatteris

■ ■ •

37» 55

„ M. of Chatteris ...

• ■ •

• • •

37

„ Will of Chatteris

• • •

37» 46 55

„ W.. Jun. (?) of Chatteris

• • •

• • •

46

„ John, Sen. of Chatteris

* • •

46

„ John, Jun. of Chatteris

« • •

• • •

46

Dreuthe, Skating at

• ••

12

Drowning, Cases of

• • •

164

„ Danger of ..

• • •

• • •

187

Dutch Skating

• ••

32, 12, 29, 159

Dyalls (Racing-man)

• • •

• • •

38

Eager (Racing-man)

• ••

47

Eager Mr. S. on Skating

• • •

• • •

177

Earith

• •

9, 169, 172, 175

„ Bridge Station ...

• ••

• • •

161

„ to Denver Sluice

• • •

9

„ Players

• • »

• • •

167

„ to Salters Lode (Hundred-foot)

• • •

175

„ to Salters Lode, Journey

• ••

• ••

170, 175

„ Sluice Gates, (Seven Holes

. pr Nine Holes)

169, 171

„ Stanch ... ...

• • •

156

„ Suspension Bridge
„ to Wisbech

• • •

■ ■ ■

175

#••

175

„ to Welney

• ••

• •^

172

Earth on Ice

• ••

98, 189

East Fen

• * •

• ••

183

Eau Brink Cut

• • •

174

Fdgehaston Pool (Rotton Park)

• • •

• ••

35.49

Lvl^cb, Skate Iron, use of

• ••

105, 114

220 Initx.

Page.

Elstree Race ... ... ... 56

Ely ••• ... t«* ••• ... 12} 162, 175

ft Dock ... ... ... ... 162

„ Isle of ... ••• ••. ... 164, 162

,, to Cambridge ... ... ... 158

„ to Denver Sluice ... ... ... 163

„ to Littleport ... ... ... ... 162

,, Skating near ... ... ... 162

Elastic-side Boots ... ... ... 85

Engadine ... ••• ... 12

Errors in Measurement ... ... ... 45

Explanation of Map ... ... ... 153

Faults of Learners ... ... ... 103

False Racing, Rule against ... ... 20

Falls on Ice ... ... ... loi

Farrer of Nordelph ... ... ... 47

Fastening Skates ... ... ... 88

" Fen Land Past and Present," The ... 34

Fen Skating, The Term ... ... i

Fen Skating, Description of ... ... 6

Fens, Description of ... ... ... 2, 9, 155

Few of Sutton (Racing-man) ... ... 47

Field, Hockey ... ... ... 141

*• Fish " Smart, see George Smart ...

Fitz Stephen on Skating ... ... 28

" Five Miles from anywhere " (Upware) ... 160

Fixing Straps ... ... ... 89

Floods Ferry ... ... 174

Forty-foot River ... ... 42, 171, 173, 174, 175

„ River, Description of ... ... 174

Foul. Racing ... ... ... 61

Fosdyke, Journey on ... ... ... 182

Frequency of Skating ... ... ... 12

Friesland Races ... .;. ... 71

Frost, Degrees of ... ... ... ... 158,184

Frontispiece, Description of ... ... 42

Gaiters for Boots ... ... .. 85

Game of Hockey ... ... ... 10,138

Gimlets ... .. ... ... 92

Gittam of Nordelph ... ... ... 35i 4i> 42, 172

,, Description of ... ... .. 43

Gittam p. Ayres (Race) ... ... 43

Gittam 17. J. Staples (Race) ... ... ... 38

Gittam v. Young (Race) ... ... 41

Gittam v. G. Staples (Race) ... ... ... 38

Glen, River ... ... ... ... 155,178

Index,

221

Glen, River, Description of ...
Godmanchester

., Players

Goethe oc Skating
Groningen, Skaiiu^ at
Great Ouse, Description of
Granchester Fen, Description of
Granta, The River
Green of March
Grinding Skates
Groves on Ice

Grantham Canal, Skating on
Gut h rams Engine, Drain to
C uy hi m to Wisbech
Guyhim
Guyhirn, River below

Handicapping, Objections to
Haarlem, Seige of
Hague, The, Skating in ...
Hawes, A. of Welney
Harrison, W. of Downham
Hartford , Skating at

„ Meadow
Handbook, Association
Harrimere ...

„ to Hermitage

., to Ely
Hare of Littleport
Hankin, Mr. J. G. ...
Heel of Skate too long
Hemingford Meadow ...
Hermitage
Hermitage Sluice
Heats, Arrangement of
Height for size of Skate
Heel-holes in Boots
Heathcote's, Mr., Book
Hill, John of Billinge, Lancashire
Hicklin of C ro wland
Historical References
Hilgay

Hinchingbrook
Hockey, The game of ...

on River at Hartford
Skates

otlCKS •.. •*.

Ball

Field ••• *••

it

»»

}»

*»

»«

«•!

Pmc

156, 182

166

148, 167

15
12

157

157

157
41, 46, 49

98
112

183

178

176

176

176

•

21

29

12

51.56

51
148, 165. 167

148. 167

46

161

161

162

41
66, 74

181

167

161

169

39. 60

84
85

38

S3
38

163, 175
166

10, 13a

167
76, 147

139
140

141

222

Index,

Page.

Hockey Players

••.

• •.

141

,, Taciics

.. *

...

*..

144

„ Rules

...

.••

142

Hockey Clubs

...

...

...

148

Holland Nkating in

.«.

*•

12,29

Horncastle Canal ...

. .

*. *

• • •

181

Hobhole Sluice

...

...

183

Holywell

...

...

168

Holes in Boots for Screws

■ •

..a

85

Houghton ** Whale "

...

...

...

167

Holme, Racers of

...

...

49

Hundred-foot River

...

...

9>

164, 169, 172

„ River, Description of

• •*

9

„ Washes .«.

*••

• • «

9, 172, 175

Huntingdon

...

...

I6i

„ ^ Race-course

...

...

• • •

166

„ * Race

.*.

. . ■

50 166

., to Wisbech, Journey

...

• • •

164

„ Players

• « •

• •*

148, 167

Ice Chair ... .,.

...

...

136

,, Cracked

• . •

...

*• •

138

,, Variety of

...

«•*

189

,, Sledges

...

.«.

• « •

27

,, Separating

*•*

• • •

166

„ »»Cats"

...

• • •

« • •

168

„ Dangerous
,, Breaking

...

...

138

• .

.*.

•• •

182, 186

Inaccuracy of Course

• • •

• • •

56

Introduction of Skating

...

...

• • •

31

Isleham

. • •

...

162

James II. a Skater

• • •

• a.

• • •

30

Journeys, Long

. • •

...

175

Judge at Races

.

• •.

• ■ •

69

Kicking up Heels
Kings Dyke

...

.. .

103

«•.

*•«

• ••

174

Kiopstock on Skating ...

...

...

15

Knarr Cross

••«

. 1

• ••

176

Lancashire Skaters, Defeat of

...

• • •

7

,, Skater beating (Champion

...

53

Lark, The River ...

...

...

• • •

162

Ladies Dress

...

...

131

** Lamb and Flag," Welney

...

...

•-• •

43

length of Race Course

...

...

68,70

Index,

223

Length of Skate ...

„ of Stroke
Learning to Skate
Left Leg

Leg, The Movements of...
Lingay Fen, Description of ...
Lincoln

„ and Boston, Skating between
Littleport

to Southery Ferry ...
Race at
Little Ouse, Description of

It

•« • • .

London District Race
Lynn

Page.

73

"3

lOI

103
103

156, 181
180

71, 162
164

175
164

162

54
156

•»

}i

Manea

Matches against time

Maud Foster Drain

May V. Young, Race

March

Route from

V. Chatteris ( Race)

9 % ^XX V Cl • • • • • •

Marshland Cut

t, oiuice ... ...

May of Upwell

Marks on Ice ... ...

Marks, R^stered
Map of Fen Rivers

., Explanation of
Mepal

Mepal Bridge
Meadows, Bury Fen

Cowbit

Hartford

Hemingford

Houghton

Hundred-foot ( Washes)

Lingay Fen ...

Nene Washes

Preston's Field, Newnham

St. Ives

Stourbridge Common

Swavesey

Welland Wash

Witton
Mid lie Level District ...
Middle Level Drain

>?
i»
»«
tf

it

it
it
f f

It
»•

i57> 172,

171

S5
183

57

174

174
46

174

174

174

41, 57
112

76

153

9, i72» 175
169, 171

148, 168
70, 177, 180

148, 167
167
167
154, 172, 175
157
154
158
167

158
168
177
167

173. 174
173, 175

224'

Index.

Mildenhall ...

Minot of Manea (Racing-man)

Middleditch of Reach ( Racing-man)

Moritz, ^^t., Skating at

Mortons Leam

Moxon, Dr.

Murrow

Page.
162

41

41

12

176

SI

176

»•

»»

> * . ...

National Skating Association

Effects of
on False Racing
Objects of
Rules for Racing
Handbook of
Nar, The River
Nene Outfall Cut

„ to Trent, Skating between
„ River, Description of ...
New River

W cLollwS ••• ••• •••

„ The River
New South Eau ...

,, Wryde. Skating on

„ River, The Hundred-foot
Needham, ( Racing-man )
Newnham, Skating at
North Level Main Drain

„ ,, ,, ,, Skating on

,, ,. Skating District

„ Forty-foot, Skating on
Norman, Mr. F. r. Mr. L. Tebbutt, (Race)

„ Mr. F., of Willingham
Nordelph

Nottingham Canals
Number of Racers
Nut of Screw

I, 17, 168
20

• • • ££

2

62

46

163
177

i«3
176

176

174, 176

155* 173. 174, 179
177

176

169, 175

47
158

177
179

176

183

54

54

172, 173. 174

183

64, 66

99

Oiling Straps

Old Bedford River, Description of

,, Bedford

,. West River
,, Wryde

,, West River, Description of
Outwell
Ouse, The Great

„ „ ., Description of
„ Great, Valley of
„ The Little
Over Cote ...

9, 171

9. 43. 169

161, 169, 17s

176, 177

161

173
I55»i73. 174, 175
164
164
162
168, 175

Index. 225

Page.

** Patten," The Word ... ... ... 13

Passing in Races ... ... ... 61

,, when Skating ... ... ... 130

Peterboro' ... ... ... ... 174, 176

,, Route to ... ... ... 174

Peakirk Drain, Skating on ... ... 177

Peakirk ... ... ... ... 177

** Pike and Eel," The ... ... ... 160

Plough, Snow ... ... ... ... 134

Pode Hole ... ... ... iSo

Podhole Engine ... ... ... 178

Pophams Eau ... ... ... 174

Portsand Drain ... ... .. 177

Porter of Southery ( Racing-man) ... ... 47

Preston, Ice Field at ... ... ... 158

Prize for Speed ... ... ... 56

Prize Money, Division of ... ... ... 66

Prizes at Races ... ... ... 66

Price of Skates ... ... ... ... 73

Prow of Skates ... ... ... 77

Protection of Straps ... ... ... 96

Prickwillow ... ... ... 162

Praxihoscope ... ... ... ... 112

Practical Joke ... ... ... 191

Quarter-mile Race ... ... ... 53

Quickest Time ... ... ... 59

Race Course, Length of ... ... ... 68

„ Description of ... ... 39

Racing Rules, St. Ives ... ... ... 6$

Ramsey ... ... ... ... 171

Rampton ... .«• ... ... 161

Rampton Lode ... ... ... 16;

Raven's Clough ... ... .. 179

Reach Lode ... ... ... 160

Register, Larman of Southery ... ... 163

„ „ Description of ... ... 47

Resistance of Air ... ... ... 122

Registered Marks, Association ... ... 76

Richardson of Whittlesea ... ... ... 41

Rivers Fen, Description of ... ... 41, 155

Rolf, Mr. V. ... ... ... ... 53

Running Skates, " Standard " ... ... 74

Running v. Skating ... ... ... 59

Running Skating, The term ... ... i

Rule for Passing ... ... ... 62, 130

Rules for Racing, St. Ives ... ... 65

Salter's Lode , ... ... .. ... 9, 175

«9

9*

Salter's Lode Sluice
„ f« to Earith
^ ^ to VS^sbcch
ScandinaTiaii LitciatiiTe
Scratches on Ice
Screw bole in Boot
See, G., Wefaiej

ff Desczjptioo of
Selection of Racers
Selling Races, Role against
Sevenboles Bridge, Earith
Shdton, (Raang-man)
Sh<»t Race
Sixteen-foot River
Skates, Attention to

Blade, Thickness of
Shape of
Blnntness of
Buying
Carrying ...
Choosing
Curve of ...
Grinding
Heel of ...
Hockey
Iron stop on
Position on Foot
Price of ...
Racing
Size of
Sole Spikes
" Standard"
Straps, (see straps)
Varnishing
Walnut- wood
" Whittlesea Runner'
Skating Chair

^ Grounds, Attention to
„ Lieaming ••. •••

Skill of Skaters ...
Sledges, Ice
Slearord Cut
Smart, George ("Fish,") of Wehiey

„ Description of ...

Smart, Jarman, Wekiey
Smart, W. (^* Turkey,'^) of Wehiey
at Edgebaston
Description of
Smart, W. v. Register (Race)
Smith Mr. J.

9t
t»
«f
f»
>»
9>
9t
f»
9>

f

t*
f*
tf

>t

• t

M
ft
»9

.»»

163, 171, 172

i70» »75
173

*5

112

86,91
5»
4«
39

it

171
49
S3

173
96
76. 84
77
97
73
92
80
80

99
86

76

90

86,90

73
76

73- 76. 84

77

74

97
75.82

79

13s
126

102

108

27. 135
181

50. 5»» 56, 183
SO

5i> 52
35. 48, 49. 50

35.49
48
48
42

Index.

227

Smith V. Cross (Race)

Smith, S. T. v, Dan (Race)

Smith, J. S. (or S. J., or C. S.), of Holme

Snow Division Line

Snow on Ice

Snow-plough

South Level District

Southery ... ... ...

,, Ferry to Denver Sluice
South-drove Drain
South Forty-foot, Skating on
South Holland Drain, Skating on ...
,, ,, totheWelland

Spalding ...

„ and Sutton, Journey between

opccci •■• •*• .«.

,, Prize for ...
Sporting Annals
Stamford ...
" Standard " Running Skates
Standground

Staples, C. V. Gittam (Race)
Staples, C. t?. Youngs (Race)
Staples, J. V, Gittam ( Race)
Starting at Races
Sticks for Hockey ... ...

St. Ives Bridge

,, Meadow ...

,, Racing Suggestions

,, Rules for Racing

,, Skatinp; Association
St. Jame's Drain
St. Mary's Church Cambridge
St. Montz
St. Neots

Stourbridge Common, Ice at
Stopping ' ... ... ...

Stow Park Station

Strap Buckles

Straps, Arrangements of

„ Fixing

,, Holes in

,, Length of •• ...

„ Oiling

it

Price of

., Protection to
„ Quality of
„ Tightening
Stream, Effects of
Stretham Bridge

Page.

• • •

50

•

59

• • •

49, 50* 1^6

•

130

• • •

127, 188

•

134

• • •

174

•

12, 163

• V •

163

«

178, 180

• • •

182

•

177, 179

• • •

179

12, 156,

178, 180, 182

...

179

•

54, 182

• « •

56

•

42

t

156

*• •

74

•

174

...

38

.

38

...

38

.

69

...

139

»

168

■ . •

167

.

66

...

. ^5

.

65,74

...

177

.

153

...

12

.

165

...

158

.

107

.M>

182

•

90,94

.. .

88

.

89

«••

93

•

83

...

97

.

73

•• •

96

•

78,82

<••

P

•

185

• ••

161

228

Index,

• 4

Strokes on Ice ...

Style of Skating . . .
Suggestions as to Races
Suspension Bridge, Welney
Sutton, (Cambs.)

„ Bridge, ( Cambs.)
„ Gault

., Bridge, ( Lincoln )
Swavesey, Drain from ...
,, Meadow
,, Players

,, i\ace ••« ••

Sweepers, Snow
Sweeping Snow ...

^ „ Neglect of ... •••

Swinging Arms
Syphons, Site of

Table of Winners

Tattershall Bridge

Tebbutts', Messrs., Journeys ...

,, A., Mr., Table of Winners
Tebbutt, Mr. L. v. Mr. Norman ( Race)

„ Mr. Louis

„ Mr. Sidney
Terry of Wisbeach
Thorney Dyke, Skating

, , ivivcr • • • • • •

Thickness of Ice required

Thin Ice, Passing over ...

Thompson of Wimblington

Thompson v. Young (Race)

Theory of Skating

Tide, Effect of

Times of Races ...

Tongs Drain

Torry of Wisbeach

Tobacco-pipe stem

Torksey

Trower ( Racing-man) ...

Trent and Nene, Skating between

Trent. River

" Turkey " (see W. Smart) . . .

Twenty-foot River

Tydd ...

Tyddgote

f •

. • .
... ...

...

Upwell
Variety of Ice

Page.
112

32, 124

66
170

9

169

171
179

168

168

148

56
127

1 33
127

106,119, 125
157. 174

175

51

54

54

79. 153

41
176

176

183
186

3«

38
109

169

53

174

57
100

182

57

179
182

174
177
177

174
189

Index.

229

Varlow of Benwick
Vermuydens Drain
Vernatts Drain
Volunteers Skating

Page.

41

171. 173. 174, 175

178, 180

167

Ward Mr.

Watkinson T., Welney
Washes, see Meadows
Watkinson v. Carter (Race)
Welland River

•• Washes
Welney

,, Skaters

„ " Lamb and Flag "

„ Suspension Bridge
Welches Dam

n „ to Marshland Sluice
West Fen

„ River, The Old
Well Creek

^elmore Lakes Sluice . . .
Whittlesea
Whittlesea Mere

,, „ Description of

,) ,, Skating on

)) „ Site of^ ...

„ „ Drainage of

„ ,, toMildenhall

<' Whittlesea " Running Skates
Whaptode
Wisbech.

„ Canal, Descripton of

M < Canal

., to Huntingdon

„ to Earith
Witton Meadow
Wissey, River
Wind, Skating with

„ Effects on Racing
Wicken Fen, Description of
Witham, River

„ The River^ Description of
Wiles of Welney
Width of Course
Winners, Table of
Wrench Key
Wildmore Fen

Wroxham Broad (Norwich) ...
Willingham ...

42
50, 51, 166, 175

166

i55» 178
177

9, If, 171, 175

53

43
170

171, i73» 175

173

183
161, 169, 175

172

172

174

174

3

174

38

79
179

173. 175

173

173
164

175
167

181
61

160
15s, 180
156, 178

49

68, 129

52
99

183
24

161

930

Index,

Youngs of Mepal

„ „ Description

Young IF. May (Race) ...
Youngs of Nordelph
Young V. Gittam (Race)
Young V. Thompson (Race)
Young V, Staples (Race)
Zoetrope Pictures ...

Page.

44

57
41.42.172

41

38
112

)

James O. Hankin, Steam Printer and Publisher, St. Ives, Hunts.

SKATING SEASON.

J. B. ULPH & SON

IRONMONGERS, &o.,
SAINT IVES, HUNTS.,

Have stocked a large quantity of

''STANDARD SKATES."

As adopted and approved by the *^ St. Ives
Committee " of the '^ National Skating Association.'*

Orders Promptly Attended to

^BBBBBBEaiBi

A large quantity of other makes in stock.

ZOETROPE

OR

WHEEL OF LIFE,

The Deuign of Skaters for Zoetrope, by

ALBERT GOODMAN, Esq.,

May be obtained post free for Six Stamps of Mr.
HANK IN, Publisher, St. Ives, Hunts.

L

St. Ives, Hunts :

JAMES G. HANKIN,

Printer and Publisher.